HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

194

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO CONVENE THE APPROPRIATE STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS FOR THE FORTIFICATION OF THE LOCAL POWER GRID AND OTHER CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN HAWAII.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, in the recent past, high-altitude balloons flying over the United States of America have made many news headlines; and

 

     WHEREAS, some of these balloons are said to be from foreign governments; and

 

     WHEREAS, these balloons appear capable of delivering a weaponized electromagnetic pulse payload capable of disabling the local power grid; and

 

     WHEREAS, at this point in time it appears Alaska is the only state to have made preparations by backing up its bulk power supply; and

 

     WHEREAS, other critical infrastructure elements such as cybersecurity in Hawaii is also vulnerable to attack; and

 

     WHEREAS, a 2019 Executive Order tasked the Department of Homeland Security with developing best practices for defending critical infrastructure from an electromagnetic pulse attack; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's geographical location leaves it vulnerable in the event of such an attack, with no close supply of backup power generators; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2023, that this body urges the United States Congress, in conjunction with the appropriate stakeholders and nongovernmental organizations, to create a functional plan to both fortify Hawaii's critical infrastructure as well as create a response plan in the event of such an attack; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the United States Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, the Office of the Governor of Hawaii, and the members of the Hawaii State Legislature.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Urging the United States Congress to convene the appropriate stakeholders and partners for the fortification of the local power grid and other critical infrastructure in Hawaii