Bill · S. 2169· Senate(119-S-2169)
Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act
- Introduced
- 6/25/2025
- Last activity
- 1/28/2026 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 309.
- Sponsored by
- Josh Hawley
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 5
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Rural Hospital Cybersecurity Enhancement Act," requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a comprehensive strategy to build a cybersecurity workforce for rural hospitals. The Secretary must develop this strategy within one year of the Act's enactment. The strategy is intended to address the increasing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals in rural healthcare settings. Additionally, the Secretary is tasked with providing instructional materials to help rural hospital staff with fundamental cybersecurity efforts. The Secretary must also provide annual briefings to Congress regarding the strategy's progress and effectiveness.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+6
The bill specifically targets rural hospital staff and educational institutions with resources and training.
Does this better protect the country from computer attacks?+6
The bill explicitly focuses on building a cybersecurity workforce to protect rural healthcare infrastructure.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+5
By improving cybersecurity, the bill helps protect the operational integrity and service continuity of rural hospitals.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Workforce Development Through Partnerships: The bill encourages partnerships between rural hospitals, non-rural healthcare systems, educational institutions, and private entities to expand the cybersecurity workforce through tailored training programs (Section 3(c)(1)).
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Localized Educational Resources: The strategy considers creating a cybersecurity curriculum and teaching resources specifically for use in community colleges, vocational schools, and other educational institutions located in rural areas (Section 3(c)(2)).
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Free Training Materials for Staff: The Secretary is required to make available, at no cost, instructional materials that can be used to train hospital staff on fundamental cybersecurity efforts (Section 4(a)).
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Targeted Problem Solving: The strategy aims to identify specific cybersecurity workforce challenges faced by rural hospitals and find common practices to mitigate those challenges (Section 3(c)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Funding Constraints: The bill explicitly states that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the Act (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+6Good For Students+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+3Increases Job Creation+3
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+6
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+4
- 3/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/28/2026
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Cassidy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 309.
- 1/15/2026
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 11/19/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/22/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/26/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/25/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Susan CollinsRepublican · Maine
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia