Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. I rise today to express my support for H. Res. 1244, sponsored by Representative CIRO RODRIGUEZ of Texas, recognizing the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) for their five-year effort in promoting a cyber security curriculum in institutions of higher learning. I believe that because the contestants are tested on their operational and management skills in network infrastructures and keeping defense systems safe from hackers, the CCDC not only benefits the competitors but support educators, students, the community, and the Government.
Cyber defense is important to my constituency in Georgia, as well as to our nation as a whole because as our technology capabilities grow nationally so does the threat to our network operations. I share the concerns of many Americans that information privacy and security is compromised as more and more information becomes electronic. Everyday, Americans fill out doctor's forms, insurance forms, credit card forms, and other documents that are digitized and stored at a data center somewhere. Too often, we find out that this information has been compromised in some way, whether intentionally by a hacker or accidentally through poor data management. Once compromised, one can never know how their personal information could have been accessed and how it may be used in the future. As more and more data becomes electronic, clearly we should invest in a cyber security system that is capable of protecting this data.
I am proud to recognize the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition today because it is not only a way to allow talented individuals an opportunity to provide infrastructure assurance and security; it also challenges students to protect corporate network infrastructures and business information systems.
I congratulate the 2010 National Collegiate Cyber Defense Champions on their win and I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.