Trending
Less than a week after the Colonial Pipeline was hit by a cyberattack, freshman state Rep. Mike Loychik said he plans to introduce legislation shortly to provide $1 million annually in state funds for a cybersecurity grant program.
Loychik, R-Bazetta, didn't return messages Wednesday asking how he came up with the plan. He has refused to speak to this newspaper since his election in November.
In a Wednesday prepared statement, Loychik said his proposal would allow private and state agencies to seek grants for cybersecurity to protect pipelines and electrical grids.
"We've recently seen hackers take control of one of our major pipelines, which has led to gas shortages and price surges on Americans," he said in the statement.
Loychik criticized the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, for "not doing anything to protect our energy sector. It's up to our state to take action to ensure our grids are protected and that Ohioans are not being hurt at the gas pumps."
A day earlier on Twitter, Loychik went further, writing: "People are starting to ask: is it possible Joe Biden is colluding with Russia to destroy America's energy sector?"
The tweet received numerous negative comments with several saying no one is asking that question.
On Wednesday, Biden signed an executive order meant to strengthen U.S. cybersecurity defenses.
It will require all federal agencies to use basic cybersecurity measures, like multi-factor authentication, and require new security standards for software makers that contract with federal agencies.
Officials are hoping to leverage the federal government's massive spending power to make widely used software safer for the private sector as well.