introduced the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act of 2026, legislation to launch a targeted grant program to help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity.
Launch a targeted grant program to help rural utilities improve reliability and strengthen and modernize their cybersecurity.
Occurrences
Section 40124 of the IIJA authorizes $250 million over a 5-year period to create the RMUC Program to help electric cooperative, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats, and to increase their participation in cybersecurity threat information sharing programs.
Evidence
U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act of 2026, legislation to launch a targeted grant program to help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity.
The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity (RMUC) Program was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, authorizing $250 million over a 5-year period to help electric cooperative, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats.
Senator Boozman advocated for improved cybersecurity education to strengthen core physical infrastructure systems and prevent attacks on critical industries, pressing for tools to mitigate cybersecurity attacks on small and medium utility systems.
Senators John Boozman and Mark Kelly introduced the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act of 2026, aiming to establish a grant program to help rural utilities improve reliability and strengthen cybersecurity. The legislation authorizes $50 million annually for these improvements, targeting the smallest and most economically challenged rural communities.
The RMUC Program, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, provides $250 million over five years to assist rural utilities in enhancing cybersecurity. The program supports investments to harden utility systems, deliver technical assistance, and provide cybersecurity training to the utility workforce.
Senator Boozman advocated for enhanced cybersecurity education to protect rural water systems from cyber threats. He emphasized the need for improved cybersecurity education to strengthen core physical infrastructure systems and prevent attacks on critical industries.
Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Mr. KELLY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. The bill is titled the "Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems Act of 2026" and establishes a rural area digital infrastructure technology grant program. The bill authorizes $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for grants that support digital infrastructure technology, training, and on-site cybersecurity assistance for rural water infrastructure.
U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act of 2026, legislation to launch a targeted grant program to help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity. The legislation authorizes $50 million annually for these improvements, targeted to the smallest and most economically challenged rural communities.
The Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity (RMUC) Program was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Section 40124 authorizes $250 million over a 5-year period to create the RMUC Program to help electric cooperative, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats. The program supports investments to harden utility systems, deliver technical assistance, and provide cybersecurity training to the utility workforce.
Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced the Futureproofing Local Operations for Water Systems (FLOWS) Act of 2026, legislation to launch a targeted grant program to help rural utilities improve reliability while also strengthening and modernizing their cybersecurity.
S. 3967 was introduced on March 3, 2026 and read twice before being referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. The bill would create a rural area digital infrastructure technology grant program for water infrastructure, including training and on-site cybersecurity assistance for rural water systems.
DOE says the RMUC Program was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and authorizes $250 million over five years to help electric cooperative, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats, with system hardening, technical assistance, and workforce training.
Assessments
Boozman made a serious same-term legislative attempt by introducing the FLOWS Act and promoting rural utility cybersecurity support, but the bill was only introduced and referred, not enacted. A separate RMUC program already exists under prior federal law and only partially overlaps the promise, so it does not count as Boozman delivering the targeted grant program he promised.
Partial. A federal grant program (the RMUC Program, authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) already exists to help rural/municipal electric and small investor‑owned utilities with cybersecurity ($250M over 5 years), so a federal mechanism addressing rural-utility cybersecurity is in place. Separately, Sen. Boozman sponsored and publicly promoted the FLOWS Act (S.3967, 2026), which would establish a targeted grant program for rural water systems (authorizes $50M/year FY2027–2031) and was introduced and referred to committee — showing clear legislative effort — but it has not been enacted. Because an existing program covers part of the promise and Boozman has introduced but not passed matching legislation, the claim is partially fulfilled.
Boozman introduced and advocated for the FLOWS Act of 2026, which would create the targeted rural utility grant program described in the promise, including reliability and cybersecurity support, but the evidence does not show that bill was enacted or that the promised program was launched. A related federal RMUC program exists under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and helps rural and municipal utilities with cybersecurity, but it is narrower than the promise because it does not cover the full reliability-plus-cybersecurity grant program described and was not shown to be chiefly delivered through Boozman's promised legislation. This supports partial credit with an effort badge rather than full delivery.
Senator Boozman introduced and advocated for legislation (FLOWS Act) and supported initiatives (RMUC Program) to launch targeted grants for rural utilities to improve reliability and cybersecurity. However, the specific FLOWS Act grant program was only introduced, not fully enacted or funded, while other federal programs like RMUC partially overlap but do not fully align with the scope and control of the campaign promise. Significant legislative effort was evident, but the exact promise is only partially realized.
Senator Boozman took significant legislative and advocacy steps toward launching a targeted grant program for rural utilities to improve reliability and strengthen cybersecurity. He introduced relevant legislation (FLOWS Act), supported related funding programs (RMUC), and publicly advocated for cybersecurity enhancements in rural utilities. However, the core promise—specifically establishing and launching a distinct targeted grant program as proposed—was only partially fulfilled, as some related measures were implemented and/or introduced, but not all aspects of the promise were fully realized into law or operational programs attributable solely to Boozman's efforts.