Findings

Congress finds the following: (1) Maritime trade is essential to America’s economic stability, supporting $2,100,000,000,000 in economic activity, or 41.5 percent of the global trade value of the United States. (2) The increasing frequency and severity of cyber threats to the marine transportation system (hereinafter referred to as MTS) presents economic and national security risks. (3) The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation are designated as co-Sector Risk Management Agencies (hereinafter referred to as SRMAs) for the MTS under Presidential Policy Directive 21, with further delegation of responsibilities to agencies such as the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration as outlined in implementing documents. (4) Executive Order 14116, issued by President Biden in February 2024, expands the United States Coast Guard’s regulatory authorities to strengthen MTS cybersecurity. (5) The Coast Guard issued a final cybersecurity rule, Cybersecurity in the Marine Transportation System, establishing mandatory incident reporting for regulated entities, significantly expanding the Coast Guard’s cybersecurity oversight responsibilities. (6) Through the Investing in America Agenda, the Biden administration dedicated $20,000,000,000 for United States port infrastructure, but it fails to specify cybersecurity-specific spending allocations to provide the Coast Guard with adequate resources and funding. (7) The Coast Guard remains underfunded and understaffed for the purpose of sector risk management. (8) The ability of the Coast Guard to fulfill SRMA duties is contingent upon adequate budgetary resources and a healthy workforce. (9) A Government Accountability Office audit is necessary to assess the budget and capabilities of the Coast Guard as an SRMA to ensure it can fulfill responsibilities for protecting the MTS against cyber threats.