Portman, Klobuchar, Blunt, Peters Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ensure Congressional Cybersecurity Defenders Receive Timely Cybersecurity Information

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee, Roy Blunt (R-MO), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee, and Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced the bipartisan Intragovernmental Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act to ensure sharing of cybersecurity information between operational cybersecurity staff in the Executive Branch and the Senate and House of Representatives. This legislation will ensure that cybersecurity defenders in Congress are able to work collaboratively and directly with cybersecurity defenders in the Executive Branch and will require regular reporting to Congress on the status of implementation. The legislation would ensure the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate and the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives receive direct, timely, and actionable cybersecurity information from the Executive Branch.

"As we have recently seen, cyberattacks are increasing against our critical infrastructure as well as the federal government. Unfortunately, some of the cybersecurity professionals in Congress have faced lengthy delays in getting information on cybersecurity threats from the Executive Branch. That should not be the case," said Portman. "Our cyber adversaries move quickly and do not distinguish between branches of government--we need a unified and coordinated defense. That is why we have introduced this bipartisan legislation requiring the Department of Homeland Security to enter cybersecurity information-sharing agreements with the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate and Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives."

"Cybersecurity threats against our government require a timely, coordinated response. Yet too often a lack of communication between the Department of Homeland Security and Congress leaves us vulnerable to damaging cyberattacks," said Klobuchar. "This bipartisan legislation will better protect us against cyberattacks by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to increase cybersecurity information sharing with Congress."

"The federal government faces more cyberattacks from more directions than ever before," said Blunt. "This legislation will help ensure Congress's cybersecurity professionals have access to the timely and sensitive information they need to better protect the House and Senate from the alarming rise in cyberattacks."

"Foreign adversaries, like the Russian government, and cybercriminals continue to target our nation's most essential public and private networks. That is why our different branches of government must work together to bolster the security of all federal systems, including those in Congress, that store a considerable amount of sensitive information," said Peters. "This commonsense, bipartisan bill will make sure that professionals in charge of securing House and Senate networks are working closely with our nation's lead cybersecurity agencies to address online threats."

Source