PUBLIC LAW 113–282—DEC. 18, 2014 

NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY PROTECTION 

ACT OF 2014 


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128 STAT. 3066 PUBLIC LAW 113–282—DEC. 18, 2014 

Public Law 113–282 

113th Congress 

An Act 

To codify an existing operations center for cybersecurity. 

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 ‘‘National Cybersecurity Protection 

Act of 2014’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act— 

(1) the term ‘‘Center’’ means the national cybersecurity 

and communications integration center under section 226 of 

the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as added by section 3; 

(2) the term ‘‘critical infrastructure’’ has the meaning given 

that term in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

(6 U.S.C. 101); 

(3) the term ‘‘cybersecurity risk’’ has the meaning given 

that term in section 226 of the Homeland Security Act of 

2002, as added by section 3; 

(4) the term ‘‘information sharing and analysis organization’’ has the meaning given that term in section 212(5) of 

the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 131(5)); 

(5) the term ‘‘information system’’ has the meaning given 

that term in section 3502(8) of title 44, United States Code; 

and 

(6) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Homeland 

Security. 

SEC. 3. NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY AND COMMUNICATIONS INTEGRATION CENTER. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle C of title II of the Homeland Security 

Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 141 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 

end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 226. NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY AND COMMUNICATIONS 

INTEGRATION CENTER. 

‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

‘‘(1) the term ‘cybersecurity risk’ means threats to and 

vulnerabilities of information or information systems and any 

related consequences caused by or resulting from unauthorized 

access, use, disclosure, degradation, disruption, modification, 

or destruction of information or information systems, including 

such related consequences caused by an act of terrorism; 

‘‘(2) the term ‘incident’ means an occurrence that— 

6 USC 148. 

6 USC 148 note. 

6 USC 101 note. 

National 

Cybersecurity 

Protection Act of 

2014. 

Dec. 18, 2014 

[S. 2519] 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–282—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3067 

‘‘(A) actually or imminently jeopardizes, without lawful 

authority, the integrity, confidentiality, or availability of 

information on an information system; or 

‘‘(B) constitutes a violation or imminent threat of violation of law, security policies, security procedures, or acceptable use policies; 

‘‘(3) the term ‘information sharing and analysis organization’ has the meaning given that term in section 212(5); and 

‘‘(4) the term ‘information system’ has the meaning given 

that term in section 3502(8) of title 44, United States Code. 

‘‘(b) CENTER.—There is in the Department a national cybersecurity and communications integration center (referred to in this 

section as the ‘Center’) to carry out certain responsibilities of the 

Under Secretary appointed under section 103(a)(1)(H). 

‘‘(c) FUNCTIONS.—The cybersecurity functions of the Center 

shall include— 

‘‘(1) being a Federal civilian interface for the multi-directional and cross-sector sharing of information related to cybersecurity risks, incidents, analysis, and warnings for Federal and 

non-Federal entities; 

‘‘(2) providing shared situational awareness to enable realtime, integrated, and operational actions across the Federal 

Government and non-Federal entities to address cybersecurity 

risks and incidents to Federal and non-Federal entities; 

‘‘(3) coordinating the sharing of information related to 

cybersecurity risks and incidents across the Federal Government; 

‘‘(4) facilitating cross-sector coordination to address cybersecurity risks and incidents, including cybersecurity risks and 

incidents that may be related or could have consequential 

impacts across multiple sectors; 

‘‘(5)(A) conducting integration and analysis, including crosssector integration and analysis, of cybersecurity risks and 

incidents; and 

‘‘(B) sharing the analysis conducted under subparagraph 

(A) with Federal and non-Federal entities; 

‘‘(6) upon request, providing timely technical assistance, 

risk management support, and incident response capabilities 

to Federal and non-Federal entities with respect to cybersecurity risks and incidents, which may include attribution, mitigation, and remediation; and 

‘‘(7) providing information and recommendations on security and resilience measures to Federal and non-Federal entities, including information and recommendations to— 

‘‘(A) facilitate information security; and 

‘‘(B) strengthen information systems against cybersecurity risks and incidents. 

‘‘(d) COMPOSITION.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Center shall be composed of— 

‘‘(A) appropriate representatives of Federal entities, 

such as— 

‘‘(i) sector-specific agencies; 

‘‘(ii) civilian and law enforcement agencies; and 

‘‘(iii) elements of the intelligence community, as 

that term is defined under section 3(4) of the National 

Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)); 


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128 STAT. 3068 PUBLIC LAW 113–282—DEC. 18, 2014 

‘‘(B) appropriate representatives of non-Federal entities, such as— 

‘‘(i) State and local governments; 

‘‘(ii) information sharing and analysis organizations; and 

‘‘(iii) owners and operators of critical information 

systems; 

‘‘(C) components within the Center that carry out 

cybersecurity and communications activities; 

‘‘(D) a designated Federal official for operational 

coordination with and across each sector; and 

‘‘(E) other appropriate representatives or entities, as 

determined by the Secretary. 

‘‘(2) INCIDENTS.—In the event of an incident, during exigent 

circumstances the Secretary may grant a Federal or non-Federal entity immediate temporary access to the Center. 

‘‘(e) PRINCIPLES.—In carrying out the functions under subsection (c), the Center shall ensure— 

‘‘(1) to the extent practicable, that— 

‘‘(A) timely, actionable, and relevant information 

related to cybersecurity risks, incidents, and analysis is 

shared; 

‘‘(B) when appropriate, information related to cybersecurity risks, incidents, and analysis is integrated with other 

relevant information and tailored to the specific characteristics of a sector; 

‘‘(C) activities are prioritized and conducted based on 

the level of risk; 

‘‘(D) industry sector-specific, academic, and national 

laboratory expertise is sought and receives appropriate 

consideration; 

‘‘(E) continuous, collaborative, and inclusive coordination occurs— 

‘‘(i) across sectors; and 

‘‘(ii) with— 

‘‘(I) sector coordinating councils; 

‘‘(II) information sharing and analysis 

organizations; and 

‘‘(III) other appropriate non-Federal partners; 

‘‘(F) as appropriate, the Center works to develop and 

use mechanisms for sharing information related to cybersecurity risks and incidents that are technology-neutral, 

interoperable, real-time, cost-effective, and resilient; and 

‘‘(G) the Center works with other agencies to reduce 

unnecessarily duplicative sharing of information related 

to cybersecurity risks and incidents; 

‘‘(2) that information related to cybersecurity risks and 

incidents is appropriately safeguarded against unauthorized 

access; and 

‘‘(3) that activities conducted by the Center comply with 

all policies, regulations, and laws that protect the privacy and 

civil liberties of United States persons. 

‘‘(f) NO RIGHT OR BENEFIT.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The provision of assistance or information to, and inclusion in the Center of, governmental or private 

entities under this section shall be at the sole and unreviewable 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–282—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3069 

discretion of the Under Secretary appointed under section 

103(a)(1)(H). 

‘‘(2) CERTAIN ASSISTANCE OR INFORMATION.—The provision 

of certain assistance or information to, or inclusion in the 

Center of, one governmental or private entity pursuant to this 

section shall not create a right or benefit, substantive or procedural, to similar assistance or information for any other governmental or private entity.’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of 

contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

(6 U.S.C. 101 note) is amended by inserting after the item relating 

to section 225 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 226. National cybersecurity and communications integration center.’’. 

SEC. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING NEW AGREEMENTS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit recommendations 

on how to expedite the implementation of information-sharing 

agreements for cybersecurity purposes between the Center and 

non-Federal entities (referred to in this section as ‘‘cybersecurity 

information-sharing agreements’’) to— 

(1) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the 

Senate; and 

(2) the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives. 

(b) CONTENTS.—In submitting recommendations under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 

(1) address the development and utilization of a scalable 

form that retains all privacy and other protections in cybersecurity information-sharing agreements that are in effect as of 

the date on which the Secretary submits the recommendations, 

including Cooperative Research and Development Agreements; 

and 

(2) include in the recommendations any additional authorities or resources that may be needed to carry out the 

implementation of any new cybersecurity information-sharing 

agreements. 

SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORT. 

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 

Act, and every year thereafter for 3 years, the Secretary shall 

submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the 

Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the 

Judiciary of the House of Representatives, and the Comptroller 

General of the United States a report on the Center, which shall 

include— 

(a) information on the Center, including— 

(1) an assessment of the capability and capacity of the 

Center to carry out its cybersecurity mission under this Act; 

(2) the number of representatives from non-Federal entities 

that are participating in the Center, including the number 

of representatives from States, nonprofit organizations, and 

private sector entities, respectively; 

(3) the number of requests from non-Federal entities to 

participate in the Center and the response to such requests; 

Deadline. 


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128 STAT. 3070 PUBLIC LAW 113–282—DEC. 18, 2014 

(4) the average length of time taken to resolve requests 

described in paragraph (3); 

(5) the identification of— 

(A) any delay in resolving requests described in paragraph (3) involving security clearance processing; and 

(B) the agency involved with a delay described in 

subparagraph (A); 

(6) a description of any other obstacles or challenges to 

resolving requests described in paragraph (3) and a summary 

of the reasons for denials of any such requests; 

(7) the extent to which the Department is engaged in 

information sharing with each critical infrastructure sector, 

including— 

(A) the extent to which each sector has representatives 

at the Center; 

(B) the extent to which owners and operators of critical 

infrastructure in each critical infrastructure sector participate in information sharing at the Center; and 

(C) the volume and range of activities with respect 

to which the Secretary has collaborated with the sector 

coordinating councils and the sector-specific agencies to 

promote greater engagement with the Center; and 

(8) the policies and procedures established by the Center 

to safeguard privacy and civil liberties. 

SEC. 6. GAO REPORT. 

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 

to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the 

House of Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the Center 

in carrying out its cybersecurity mission. 

SEC. 7. CYBER INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN; CLEARANCES; BREACHES. 

(a) CYBER INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN; CLEARANCES.—Subtitle 

C of title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 141 

et seq.), as amended by section 3, is amended by adding at the 

end the following: 

‘‘SEC. 227. CYBER INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN. 

‘‘The Under Secretary appointed under section 103(a)(1)(H) 

shall, in coordination with appropriate Federal departments and 

agencies, State and local governments, sector coordinating councils, 

information sharing and analysis organizations (as defined in section 212(5)), owners and operators of critical infrastructure, and 

other appropriate entities and individuals, develop, regularly 

update, maintain, and exercise adaptable cyber incident response 

plans to address cybersecurity risks (as defined in section 226) 

to critical infrastructure. 

‘‘SEC. 228. CLEARANCES. 

‘‘The Secretary shall make available the process of application 

for security clearances under Executive Order 13549 (75 Fed. Reg. 

162; relating to a classified national security information program) 

or any successor Executive Order to appropriate representatives 

6 USC 150. 

6 USC 149. 


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PUBLIC LAW 113–282—DEC. 18, 2014 128 STAT. 3071 

of sector coordinating councils, sector information sharing and analysis organizations (as defined in section 212(5)), owners and operators of critical infrastructure, and any other person that the Secretary determines appropriate.’’. 

(b) BREACHES.— (1) REQUIREMENTS.—The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall ensure that data breach notification 

policies and guidelines are updated periodically and require— 

(A) except as provided in paragraph (4), notice by the 

affected agency to each committee of Congress described 

in section 3544(c)(1) of title 44, United States Code, the 

Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on the 

Judiciary of the House of Representatives, which shall— 

(i) be provided expeditiously and not later than 

30 days after the date on which the agency discovered 

the unauthorized acquisition or access; and 

(ii) include— 

(I) information about the breach, including a 

summary of any information that the agency 

knows on the date on which notification is provided 

about how the breach occurred; 

(II) an estimate of the number of individuals 

affected by the breach, based on information that 

the agency knows on the date on which notification 

is provided, including an assessment of the risk 

of harm to affected individuals; 

(III) a description of any circumstances necessitating a delay in providing notice to affected 

individuals; and 

(IV) an estimate of whether and when the 

agency will provide notice to affected individuals; 

and 

(B) notice by the affected agency to affected individuals, 

pursuant to data breach notification policies and guidelines, 

which shall be provided as expeditiously as practicable 

and without unreasonable delay after the agency discovers 

the unauthorized acquisition or access. 

(2) NATIONAL SECURITY; LAW ENFORCEMENT; REMEDIATION.—The Attorney General, the head of an element of the 

intelligence community (as such term is defined under section 

3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)), 

or the Secretary may delay the notice to affected individuals 

under paragraph (1)(B) if the notice would disrupt a law 

enforcement investigation, endanger national security, or 

hamper security remediation actions. 

(3) OMB REPORT.—During the first 2 years beginning after 

the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office 

of Management and Budget shall, on an annual basis— 

(A) assess agency implementation of data breach 

notification policies and guidelines in aggregate; and 

(B) include the assessment described in clause (i) in 

the report required under section 3543(a)(8) of title 44, 

United States Code. 

(4) EXCEPTION.—Any element of the intelligence community 

(as such term is defined under section 3(4) of the National 

Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4)) that is required to 

Time period. 

Effective date. 

Deadline. 

Notifications. 

44 USC 3543 

note. 


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128 STAT. 3072 PUBLIC LAW 113–282—DEC. 18, 2014 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2519: 

SENATE REPORTS: No. 113–240 (Comm. on Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 160 (2014): 

Dec. 10, considered and passed Senate. 

Dec. 11, considered and passed House. 

Æ 

provide notice under paragraph (1)(A) shall only provide such 

notice to appropriate committees of Congress. 

(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in the amendment made 

by subsection (a) or in subsection (b)(1) shall be construed to alter 

any authority of a Federal agency or department. 

(d) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of 

contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

(6 U.S.C. 101 note), as amended by section 3, is amended by 

inserting after the item relating to section 226 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 227. Cyber incident response plan. 

‘‘Sec. 228. Clearances.’’. 

SEC. 8. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. 

(a) PROHIBITION ON NEW REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—Nothing 

in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed 

to grant the Secretary any authority to promulgate regulations 

or set standards relating to the cybersecurity of private sector 

critical infrastructure that was not in effect on the day before 

the date of enactment of this Act. 

(b) PRIVATE ENTITIES.—Nothing in this Act or the amendments 

made by this Act shall be construed to require any private entity— 

(1) to request assistance from the Secretary; or 

(2) that requested such assistance from the Secretary to 

implement any measure or recommendation suggested by the 

Secretary. 

Approved December 18, 2014. 

6 USC 148 note. 

6 USC 149 note. 


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