The Ripon Advance - Comstock Backs Creation of Commission to Boost Digital Security

News Article

By Ripon Advance News Service

U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA) recently became an original co-sponsor of legislation that would establish a commission to help bolster and maintain digital security.

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, authored the bipartisan Digital Security Commission Act, H.R. 4651, with companion legislation offered in the Senate by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA).

The bill would bring together technology professionals, privacy advocates, law enforcers and others together to form the digital security commission.

Comstock, the chairwoman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology, has chaired multiple hearings exploring steps that should be taken to shore up the country's cyber security.

"Our national security is constantly intertwined with the high technology community," Comstock said. "We have to make sure that we have the best tools to stay ahead of the constantly evolving technological threats. This commission will bring the brightest minds together in a nonpartisan manner so that we find the best solutions to proactively counter the cyber threat. I look forward to working with this commission once it is formed since Virginia's 10th congressional district is home to many technology firms that are working to prevent cyber attacks upon our nation."

The ultimate goals of the commission are to draft recommendations to help maintain privacy and digital security and to prevent criminals and terrorists from leveraging technologies to evade justice.

Among the legislators joining Comstock as original co-sponsors on H.R. 4651 are U.S. Reps. Pat Meehan (R-PA), Mike Bishop (R-MI), Will Hurd (R-TX), Mimi Walters (R-CA) and Ryan Costello (R-PA).

Source