III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 285 

Supporting the goals and ideals of national cybersecurity awareness month 

and raising awareness and enhancing the state of cybersecurity in the 

United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 

Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. CARPER, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. REID, Mr. 

LEVIN, Mr. BENNETT, Ms. SNOWE, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. HATCH, Mr. 

BAYH, and Mr. VOINOVICH) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of national cybersecurity 

awareness month and raising awareness and enhancing 

the state of cybersecurity 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 many people use the Internet in the United States 

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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•SRES 285 IS 

Whereas United States small businesses, which employ a significant fraction 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 all 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 selfinitiative to discover research resources; 

Whereas the number of children who connect to the Internet 

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 young users how to avoid potential threats like cyber bullies, predators, and identity 

thieves they may come across while using such services; 

Whereas cybersecurity is a critical part of the United States 

national security and economic security; 

Whereas the United States critical infrastructures and economy rely on the secure and reliable operation of information networks to support the United States military, civilian government, energy, telecommunications, financial 

services, transportation, health care, and emergency response systems; 


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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 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; 

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 cybersecurity and the need for enhanced cybersecurity in the 

United States; 

Whereas coordination between the numerous Federal agencies 

involved in cybersecurity efforts is essential to securing 

the cyber infrastructure of 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; 

Whereas the White House’s Cyberspace Policy Review, published in May 2009, recommends that the government 


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initiate a national public awareness and education campaign to promote cybersecurity; and 

Whereas the National Cyber Security Alliance, the MultiState Information Sharing and Analysis Center, the Department of Homeland Security, and other organizations 

working to improve cybersecurity in the United States 

have designated October 2009 as the sixth annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month which serves to 

educate the people of the United States about the importance of cybersecurity: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 Cybersecurity Awareness Month, as designated by 

4 the National Cyber Security Alliance, the Multi5 State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, the 

6 Department of Homeland Security, and other orga7 nizations working to improve cybersecurity in the 

8 United States; 

9 (2) continues to work with Federal agencies, 

10 businesses, educational institutions, and other orga11 nizations to enhance the state of cybersecurity in the 

12 United States; and 

13 (3) congratulates the National Cyber Security 

14 Alliance, the Multi-State Information Sharing and 

15 Analysis Center, the Department of Homeland Secu16 rity, and other organizations working to improve cy17 bersecurity in the United States on the sixth anniVerDate Nov 24 2008 04:35 Sep 25, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR285.IS SR285

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•SRES 285 IS 

1 versary of the National Cybersecurity Month during 

2 October 2009. 

Æ 


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