House Unanimously Adopts Stevens-Led Amendment to Help Manufacturers Boost Cybersecurity

Press Release

Last night, the House of Representatives unanimously passed an amendment led by Rep. Haley Stevens (MI-11) to H.R. 2500, the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment was led by Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA 35th District) and cosponsored by Reps. Haley Stevens (D-MI 11th District), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA 20th District), and Gil Cisneros (D-CA 39th District).

The amendment requires the Department of Defense, in consultation with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, to develop policies to assist small- and mid-sized manufacturers to meet cybersecurity requirements. The Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) is a public-private partnership with Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico dedicated to serving small and medium-sized manufacturers by offering services like leadership trainings, technology integration, skill development, and cybersecurity assessments. If signed into law, this amendment would engage the MEP to provide education, guidance, and technical assistance to strengthen the cybersecurity of small- and medium-sized manufacturers that provide goods or services in the supply chain for the Department of Defense.

"With recent reports warning that the federal government is vulnerable to cyberattacks, it's clear that we need to start taking cybersecurity more seriously," said Congresswoman Stevens. "No one is better positioned than the experts at Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers around the country to help manufacturers adopt robust cybersecurity standards. I look forward to working with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers, especially the outstanding Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center in Michigan's 11th District who has been leading the way on this issue. It's time to safeguard our Department of Defense supply chain from cyber attacks."

Last month, Congresswoman Stevens led a roundtable discussion to examine the role and value of cybersecurity auditing in strengthening the cybersecurity of Federal agencies.

In the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Stevens has been a leading advocate for the manufacturing sector. In her role as Chair of the House Science Subcommittee on Research & Technology, she has chaired a subcommittee hearing on advanced manufacturing. She introduced the American Manufacturing Leadership Act, a bill to improve the Manufacturing USA program. She has also written an op-ed and introduced a resolution to promote the practice of remanufacturing. Congresswoman Stevens often holds "Manufacturing Monday" events in Michigan, during which she visits small- and mid-size businesses, training centers, schools, or other places that play a role in southeast Michigan's manufacturing and innovation economy.

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