Heitkamp Statement on Passage of Bill to Improve Cybersecurity, Including Heitkamp Amendment Helping Emergency Responders

Press Release

U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today voted for comprehensive legislation the Senate passed to improve cybersecurity, better protecting national security and American businesses. The bill includes an amendment Heitkamp wrote to make sure states that want assistance securing their emergency response networks from cyberattacks will receive help from the federal government.

Heitkamp also launched a new webpage featuring "10 Smart Ways to Protect Yourself From Cyber Threats" to help North Dakotans improve their cybersecurity at home and at their businesses.

"Our lives are more connected online than ever before. Just as families and businesses face the threat of cyberattacks, such intrusions also pose a serious national security risk for our financial systems, electric grid, and first responder networks," said Heitkamp. "Emergency responders and 911 call centers work hard day in and day out to keep our communities safe. With growing cybersecurity threats to our emergency response systems, my amendment to the cybersecurity bill will make sure first responders in North Dakota and around the country are as protected as possible against cyber threats so they can effectively keep our communities safe. As a whole, this bill will make it easier for businesses and the government to share cyber threat data so that online interactions are more secure for North Dakota families and businesses."

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