III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 697 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month 

and raising awareness and enhancing the state of computer security 

in the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 30 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 17), 2008 

Mr. ROCKEFELLER (for himself and Mr. BENNETT) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security 

Awareness Month and raising awareness and enhancing 

the state of computer security in the United States. 

Whereas the use of the Internet in the United States, to communicate, conduct business, or generate commerce that 

benefits the overall United States economy, is ubiquitous; 

Whereas more than 216,000,000 people use the Internet in 

the United States, 70 percent of whom connect through 

broadband connections, to communicate with family and 

friends, manage finances and pay bills, access educational 

opportunities, shop at home, participate in online entertainment and games, and stay informed of news and current events; 


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Whereas the nearly 27,000,000 United States small businesses, which represent more than 99 percent of all 

United States employers and employ more than 50 percent of the private workforce, increasingly rely on the 

Internet to manage their businesses, expand their customer reach, and enhance the management of their supply chain; 

Whereas nearly 100 percent of public schools in the United 

States have Internet access to enhance children’s education, with a significant percentage of instructional 

rooms connected to the Internet to enhance children’s 

education by providing access to educational online content and encouraging self-initiative to discover research 

resources; 

Whereas almost 9 in 10 teenagers between the ages of 12 

and 17, or approximately 87 percent of that age group, 

use the Internet; 

Whereas the number of children who connect to the Internet 

at school continues to rise, and teaching children of all 

ages to become good cyber-citizens through safe, secure, 

and ethical online behaviors and practices is essential to 

protect their computer systems and potentially their 

physical safety; 

Whereas the growth and popularity of social networking 

websites has attracted millions of teenagers, providing access to a range of valuable services, making it all the 

more important to teach teenaged users how to avoid potential threats like cyber bullies, predators, and identity 

thieves they may come across while using such services; 

Whereas cyber security is a critical part of the United States 

overall homeland security; 


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Whereas the United States critical infrastructures and economy rely on the secure and reliable operation of information networks to support the United States financial services, energy, telecommunications, transportation, health 

care, and emergency response systems; 

Whereas cyber attacks have been attempted against the 

United States and the economy of the United States, and 

the mission of the Department of Homeland Security includes securing the homeland against cyber terrorism and 

other attacks; 

Whereas Internet users and information infrastructure owners and operators face an increasing threat of malicious 

crime and fraud attacks through viruses, worms, Trojans, 

and unwanted programs such as spyware, adware, hacking tools, and password stealers, that are frequent and 

fast in propagation, are costly to repair, and may disable 

entire systems; 

Whereas coordination between the numerous Federal agencies 

involved in cyber security efforts, including the Department of Homeland Security, the National Institute of 

Standards and Technology, and the National Science 

Foundation, is essential to securing the cyber infrastructure of the United States; 

Whereas millions of records containing personally identifiable 

information have been lost, stolen, or breached, threatening the security and financial well-being of United 

States citizens; 

Whereas consumers face significant financial and personal 

privacy losses due to personally identifiable information 

being more exposed to theft and fraud than ever before; 


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Whereas national organizations, policymakers, government 

agencies, private sector companies, nonprofit institutions, 

schools, academic organizations, consumers, and the 

media recognize the need to increase awareness of computer security and the need for enhanced computer security in the United States; 

Whereas the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, published in February 2003, recommends a comprehensive 

national awareness program to empower all people in the 

United States, including businesses, the general workforce, and the general population, to secure their own 

parts of cyberspace; and 

Whereas the Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the National Cyber Security Alliance and the 

Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, 

has designated October 2008 as the fifth annual National 

Cyber Security Awareness Month which serves to educate 

the people of the United States about the importance of 

computer security: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 Cyber Security Awareness Month; 

4 (2) congratulates the National Cyber Security 

5 Division of the Department of Homeland Security, 

6 the National Cyber Security Alliance, the Multi7 State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and 

8 other organizations working to improve cyber secu9 rity in the United States on the fifth anniversary of 


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1 the National Cyber Security Month during October 

2 2008; and 

3 (3) continues to work with Federal agencies, 

4 national organizations, businesses, and educational 

5 institutions to encourage the development and imple6 mentation of voluntary standards, practices, and 

7 technologies in order to enhance the state of com8 puter security in the United States. 

Æ 


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