Congressman Federica Wilson's Cybersecurity Amendment Passes US House of Representatives

Press Release

Today, the US House of Representatives passed an amendment written and introduced by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, directing the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to undertake research to advance understanding of cybersecurity. The amendment passed as part of H.R. 756, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2013, which was developed to help protect Americans against online threats including identity theft, fraud, foreign spying, and internet service disruptions. Congresswoman Wilson issued the following statement:

"The threat of cybersecurity is hardly science fiction. It's a dangerous reality. Universities, TV networks, government agencies, banks, and everyday internet users are victims of increasingly serious attacks that cost up to $110 billion in a year.

We still have a lot to learn about cybersecurity. This successful amendment to the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act will help to advance scientific understanding of emerging threats and ensure that American businesses, government agencies, and citizens can take action for their own protection. Institutions like Florida International University's School of Computing and Information Sciences can help lead the way.

Improving the "science of cybersecurity' will help keep our businesses profitable and keep our citizens safe."

Congresswoman Wilson is available for comment.

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