Ntia Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1345) to amend the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act to establish the Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1345

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act''. SEC. 2. POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND CYBERSECURITY.

(a) Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity.--Part A of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Organization Act (47 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``SEC. 106. OFFICE OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND CYBERSECURITY.

``(a) Establishment.--There shall be within the NTIA an office to be known as the Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity (in this section referred to as the `Office').

``(b) Associate Administrator.--The head of the Office shall be an Associate Administrator for Policy Development and Cybersecurity (in this section referred to as the `Associate Administrator'), who shall report to the Assistant Secretary.

``(c) Duties.--

``(1) In general.--The Associate Administrator shall oversee and conduct national communications and information policy analysis and development for the internet and communications technologies.

``(2) Particular duties.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the Associate Administrator shall--

``(A) develop, analyze, and advocate for market-based policies that promote innovation, competition, consumer access, digital inclusion, workforce development, and economic growth in the communications, media, and technology markets;

``(B) conduct studies, as delegated by the Assistant Secretary or required by Congress, on how individuals in the United States access and use the internet, wireline and wireless telephony, mass media, other digital services, and video services;

``(C) coordinate transparent, consensus-based, multistakeholder processes to create guidance for and to support the development and implementation of cybersecurity and privacy policies with respect to the internet and other communications networks;

``(D) promote increased collaboration between security researchers and providers of communications services and software system developers;

``(E) perform such duties as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate relating to the program for preventing future vulnerabilities established under section 8(a) of the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 (47 U.S.C. 1607(a));

``(F) advocate for policies that promote the security and resilience to cybersecurity incidents of communications networks while fostering innovation, including policies that promote secure communications network supply chains;

``(G) at the direction of the Assistant Secretary, present security of the digital economy and infrastructure and cybersecurity policy efforts before the Commission, Congress, and elsewhere;

``(H) provide advice and assistance to the Assistant Secretary in carrying out the policy responsibilities of the NTIA with respect to cybersecurity policy matters, including the evaluation of the impact of cybersecurity matters pending before the Commission, other Federal agencies, and Congress;

``(I) in addition to the duties described in subparagraph (H), perform such other duties regarding the policy responsibilities of the NTIA with respect to cybersecurity policy matters as the Assistant Secretary considers appropriate;

``(J) develop policies to accelerate innovation and commercialization with respect to advances in technological understanding of communications technologies;

``(K) identify barriers to trust, security, innovation, and commercialization with respect to communications technologies, including access to capital and other resources, and ways to overcome such barriers;

``(L) provide public access to relevant data, research, and technical assistance on innovation and commercialization with respect to communications technologies, consistent with the protection of classified information;

``(M) strengthen collaboration on and coordination of policies relating to innovation and commercialization with respect to communications technologies, including policies focused on the needs of small businesses and rural communities--

``(i) within the Department of Commerce;

``(ii) between the Department of Commerce and State government agencies, as appropriate; and

``(iii) between the Department of Commerce and the Commission or any other Federal agency the Assistant Secretary determines to be necessary; and

``(N) solicit and consider feedback from small and rural communications service providers, as appropriate.''.

(b) Transitional Rules.--

(1) Redesignation of associate administrator; continuation of service.--

(A) Redesignation.--The position of Associate Administrator for Policy Analysis and Development at the NTIA is hereby redesignated as the position of Associate Administrator for Policy Development and Cybersecurity.

(B) Continuation of service.--The individual serving as Associate Administrator for Policy Analysis and Development at the NTIA on the date of the enactment of this Act shall become, as of such date, the Associate Administrator for Policy Development and Cybersecurity.

(2) NTIA defined.--In this subsection, the term ``NTIA'' means the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1345, the NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act, led by the gentleman from Utah's Third District and the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania's Seventh District.

As our world becomes more increasingly digitized and interconnected, the importance of robust cybersecurity measures cannot be overstated. Cybersecurity threats, whether originating from State actors, criminal organizations, or malicious hackers, pose significant risks to our national security, economy, and the privacy of our citizens.

The increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks underscore the urgency of addressing this ever-evolving challenge. The NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act bolsters our Nation's cybersecurity posture by strengthening the coordination between the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, and other relevant Federal agency.

The bill renames the existing NTIA Office of Policy and Analysis and Development to the Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity and codifies the existing activities of the office.

H.R. 1345 seeks to promote effective information sharing, collaboration, and response efforts established in the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act.

Moreover, the legislation facilitates public-private partnerships to develop and implement cybersecurity policies related to the communication networks.

By encouraging collaboration between government agencies and stakeholders, we can work together to address cyber threats and vulnerabilities more effectively.

This bipartisan legislation passed out of the Energy and Commerce Committee by a vote of 44-0, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1345.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, as the gentleman just stated, this bill encourages collaboration between government agencies and stakeholders so that we can work together to address cyber threats and vulnerabilities more effectively.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage by the House, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source