Cybersecurity: Cong. McCaul Hall Move House Passage of Bills

Federal agencies instructed to implement strategic plans prevent attacks

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. H.R. 3834 introduced by Science Space & Technology Committee Chairman Ralph Hall (R-TX) and H.R. 2096 the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2012 introduced by Committee Member Cong. Michael McCaul (R-TX) were both overwhelmingly passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week to drive federal agencies to address cyber threats to Americas infrastructure.   The U.S. Chamber of Commerce called the McCaul-Lipinski bill an important step toward improving federal cybersecurity R&D activities to improve the security reliability and resilience of Americas digital infrastructure in partnership with industry." The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act incorporates several key recommendations of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44^th President which McCaul co-chaired. The McCaul & Hall legislation were brought up as part of an effort by House Leadership to address evolving cyber threats and to protect Americas vulnerable infrastructure and networks. Said Chairman Hall: As our reliance on information technology expands so do our vulnerabilities.  Protecting the nations cyber infrastructure is a responsibility shared by a number of different Federal agencies including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).    H.R. 2096 primarily addresses important cybersecurity research and development efforts conducted at or led by these agencies. It reauthorizes existing but expired research and education programs at NSF  strengthens cybersecurity R&D while eliminating two unnecessary programs and enhances scholarships to increase the size and skills of the federal cybersecurity workforce.

Cybersecurity efforts undertaken in H.R. 3834 include research to detect prevent resist respond to and recover from actions that compromise or threaten the availability integrity or security of computer- and network-based systems.  Currently 15 federal agencies are contributing members of NITRD with an additional 20 or so participating in the program.  Coordination among these agencies increases the overall effectiveness and productivity of our nations networking and information technology and cybersecurity R&D leverages our strength avoids duplication and improves interoperability of R&D products.

Most importantly networking and information technology R&D supports and boosts U.S. competitiveness enhances national security and helps strengthen the economy through the creation of high-tech jobs" said Hall. The commission presented the report Securing Cyberspace for the 44^th Presidency to President Obama detailing recommendations for securing government networks and critical infrastructure. Added Congressman McCaul:

This legislation will help secure our federal networks protect our military secrets and guard sensitive information from espionage. It creates an education program for computer hygiene which the NSA says would remedy the majority of vulnerabilities we face. The research & development and workforce improvement components are vital to strengthening our defensive capabilities. I urge the Senate to promptly pass this legislation so we can begin to protect ourselves from attack."

An October 2011 report to Congress on foreign economic collection and industrial espionage states it is part of China and Russias national policy to try to identify and steal sensitive technology to blunt Americas competitive edge and bolster their own economic growth.  These important bills will help promote more security and reliability in our networks while safeguarding consumers rights and information Christopher Padilla Vice President IBM Governmental Programs said of the McCaul-Lipinski legislation and three other cyber bills before the House. The McCaul-Lipinski bill will help harden federal networks spur research and development build ourAmerican cyber workforce and enable the government universities and private sector to collaborate more easily on cybersecurity R&D.