Dive Summary:

• Supporters of the legislature say the bill would protect critical infrastructure, while opponents argue that the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and a coalition of other power and nuclear energy associations are already tasked with addressing such safety standards.
• Also under scrutiny by the opposition was the bill’s provision for “expanded access to security clearances and threat information to sectors that volunteer to participate in new cyber regulations,” while simultaneously denying such access to electric and nuclear sectors that have already been under compliance for decades.
• Majority Leader Harry Reid led the effort to pass the bill before the end of the summer and indicated it would be brought before the Senate again in the fall.

From the article:

With lawmakers unable to bridge differences over key elements of cyber security legislation that NRECA considers “fundamentally flawed,” the Senate voted Aug. 2 against continuing work on the measure.

That ended intense efforts by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to win approval before the Senate’s fast-approaching summer recess, although he indicated S. 3414 would be back this fall. ...