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119-s-2169119th CongressWALLET

Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act

Sponsored By: Senator Hawley, Josh [R-MO]

In Committee

Summary

Strengthen the cybersecurity workforce for rural hospitals. The bill would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a comprehensive rural hospital cybersecurity workforce strategy and publish free instructional materials tailored for rural hospital staff.

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  • Rural hospitals: Would gain free, HHS-produced instructional materials on basic cybersecurity and an awareness campaign to promote those resources. Materials must be published within one year.
  • Workers and trainees: The strategy would promote partnerships and curricula for community colleges, vocational schools, and other rural education providers to build and expand the cybersecurity workforce.
  • Consultation and design: The Secretary would consult the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Departments of Education and Labor, the National Cyber Director, and at least two rural health provider representatives from each Census division when developing the strategy.
  • Oversight and tracking: The Secretary would transmit the strategy to specific congressional committees and provide annual briefings that cover updates, programs started, and the number of individuals trained.

*Would not authorize additional appropriations and would rely on existing agency resources.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Free cybersecurity training for rural hospitals

If enacted, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would publish free instructional cybersecurity materials for rural hospitals within 1 year. The materials would be available on the HHS website and through other channels at no cost. The Secretary would consult agency heads, cybersecurity education experts, and rural health care experts. The Secretary would identify existing materials to adapt, develop new materials as needed, and run an awareness campaign to promote them to rural hospitals.

Rural hospital cybersecurity workforce plan

If enacted, the Secretary of Health and Human Services would develop and transmit a rural hospital cybersecurity workforce strategy within 1 year. The Secretary would send the plan to the Senate Health, Senate Finance, House Energy and Commerce, and House Ways and Means Committees. The Secretary would consult with CISA, the Secretaries of Education and Labor, the National Cyber Director, other agencies, and at least two rural health provider representatives from each of the 9 Census geographic divisions. The strategy would cover partnerships, a cybersecurity curriculum for community colleges and vocational schools, and workforce challenges with recommended actions. The Secretary would brief those committees 60 days after the end of the first full fiscal year after transmission, and annually after that, including updates, programs and the number trained, and effectiveness assessments.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hawley, Josh [R-MO]

MO • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Sen. Kelly, Mark [D-AZ]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2025

  • Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 6/26/2025

  • Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]

    ME • R

    Sponsored 7/22/2025

  • Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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