Quick Hits

*** A bill that taps the Department of Energy to create a voluntary program to monitor the cybersecurity of the electrical energy grid supply chain would cost $56 million over five years, according to a Congressional Budget Office estimate. The Cyber Sense Act of 2019, which was passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in July, looks to establish a testing program for hardware and software that supports the bulk power system nationwide.

*** Two House lawmakers are introducing a companion to a Senate bill designed to codify, bolster and expand the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program at the Department of Homeland Security. Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) sponsored the bill. Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced the Senate version in August. The bill includes a program to extend CDM capabilities to state and local governments.

*** With Hurricane Dorian churning up the Carolina coast, Office of Personnel Management Acting Director Margaret Weichert reminded feds in a memo that weather and safety leave is authorized under federal employment law and under certain circumstances pay may be advanced to employees who are required to evacuate because of a weather emergencies.

*** Washington Technology has announced 24 firms as the 2019 Industry Innovators -- part of Public Sector 360's Government Innovation Awards. All the 2019 winners are listed here.