Ratcliffe U.S.-Israel Cybersecurity Legislation Signed into Law

Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. Rep. John Ratcliffes (R-Texas) bill was signed into law Friday to strengthen collaborative cybersecurity research and development efforts between the United States and Israel. Ratcliffe introduced the United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act of 2016 (H.R. 5877) after returning from acongressional delegation trip he led to Israel in July that focused on addressing key cybersecurity issues facing both countries. My work as a cybersecurity subcommittee chairman over the past two years has focused on ensuring American citizens are protected from the growing national security threats posed by malicious cyber actors who intend to do our nation harm. Im glad my legislation to advance this important fight is now the law of the land" Ratcliffe said. Ratcliffe said his meetings with top Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Moshe Yaalon laid a critical foundation for his U.S.-Israel cybersecurity legislation. When Rep. Langevin and I traveled to Israel earlier this year our discussions with Israeli national security and cybersecurity leaders revealed the immense wealth of untapped potential we can leverage together to collectively vamp up our efforts to combat growing cyber threats. We were extremely grateful for the opportunity to work more closely with a country thats a proven pioneer in cyber science and a top leader in cyber expertise" Ratcliffe said. The United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act expands a successful binational research and development program at the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency to include cybersecurity technologies. This collaboration between DHS and the Israeli Ministry of Public Security helps new products through the valley of death" between basic and early-phase applied research and successful commercialization and will help both countries develop solutions to the unique security problems found in the cyber domain. Rep. John Ratcliffe chairs the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies. Hes worked closely with the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) to sponsor and advance legislation to boost cybersecurity collaboration with Israel.