Bill · H.R. 9908· House(119-HR-9908)
Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act
- Introduced
- 7/23/2026
- Last activity
- 7/23/2026 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Sponsored by
- Erin Houchin
- Cosponsors
- - 2 - 3
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a comprehensive strategy for developing a cybersecurity workforce specifically for rural hospitals. This strategy must address the increasing need for skilled professionals in these settings. The Secretary is tasked with consulting various government agencies and numerous rural health care provider representatives across the country. Additionally, the Act mandates the publication of free instructional materials to train hospital staff on fundamental cybersecurity efforts. The Secretary must also provide annual briefings to Congress regarding the progress and effectiveness of the strategy. Finally, the bill specifies that no additional funds are authorized for its implementation.
Yes· 3 of 18
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?+6
The bill enhances cybersecurity defense specifically for critical rural healthcare infrastructure.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+5
The bill directly addresses the specific cybersecurity and workforce needs of rural communities.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+5
By strengthening cybersecurity, the bill helps protect the digital infrastructure necessary for rural hospital operations.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Development of specialized training: The strategy aims to create partnerships and education programs tailored specifically to the needs of rural hospitals, which could expand the local workforce (Section 3(c)(1)).
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Access to educational resources: The Act calls for the creation of a cybersecurity curriculum and teaching resources for use in community colleges and vocational schools located in rural areas (Section 3(c)(2)).
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Free training materials: The Secretary must publish instructional materials at no cost to help train hospital staff on fundamental cybersecurity efforts (Section 4(a)).
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Targeted problem solving: The strategy is required to identify specific cybersecurity challenges faced by rural hospitals and find common practices to mitigate those issues (Section 3(c)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Lack of funding: The Act explicitly states that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the requirements of the bill (Section 5).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Students+4Good For Business Owners+3Good For Retirees+3Good For Young Adults+3Good For Farmers+2Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Native Americans+2Good For People With Disabilities+2Good For Seniors+2Good For Veterans+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+6
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+4
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2Increases Federal Power+2
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3
- Education And Technology
- Improves Data Privacy+3
- 7/23/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Jennifer McClellanDemocrat · Virginia
Kim SchrierDemocrat · Washington
Jefferson ShreveRepublican · Indiana
Glenn ThompsonRepublican · Pennsylvania
Jill TokudaDemocrat · Hawaii