Veterans’ Cyber Risk Awareness Act

Bill: 117-hr-2326
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
Introduced: 2021-04-01
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft

Congressional oversight

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fraud offenses and financial crimes

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Internet, web applications, social media

Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Latest action: action_date: 2022-04-06
text: Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-04-01
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Veterans' Cyber Risk Awareness Act</strong></p> <p>This bill requires the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a communications and outreach campaign to educate veterans about <em>cyber risks</em>. These risks can include disinformation, identity theft, scams, and fraud spread via the internet or social media.</p> <p>Additionally, the VA must seek to enter an agreement with a federally funded research and development corporation to perform a study that assesses (1) the vulnerability of veterans to cyber risks, (2) the availability and efficacy of resources to assist veterans in combatting such risks, and (3) the efficacy of the VA's outreach campaign. The study must also recommend ways the VA can reduce cyber risks to veterans.<br> </p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2326 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 1, 2021 Ms. Mace (for herself and Mr. Bost ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a communications and outreach campaign to educate veterans about cyber risks, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans’ Cyber Risk Awareness Act . 2. Campaign to educate veterans about cyber risks (a) Establishment Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, through the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs (or successor office), shall conduct a communications and outreach campaign to educate veterans about cyber risks. In carrying out such campaign, the Secretary shall— (1) coordinate with other entities (including Federal entities and social media companies) that educate the public about cyber risks; (2) promote and disseminate best practices and educational materials regarding— (A) cyber risks to veterans; (B) information about how a veteran may report cyber risks to the appropriate law enforcement agency or entity other than the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (C) any other information the Secretary determines appropriate; and (3) establish and maintain a publicly accessible website of the Department— (A) regarding the campaign; and (B) that contains hyperlinks to websites of entities described in paragraph (2). (b) Progress report Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on progress of the Secretary in preparing the campaign under this section. 3. Study on cyber risks to veterans (a) Study required The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek to enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development corporation to perform a study— (1) that assesses— (A) the vulnerability of veterans to cyber risks; (B) the availability and efficacy of resources (including Federal resources) to assist veterans in combatting cyber risks; and (C) the efficacy of the campaign under section 1; and (2) to determine recommendations to the Secretary on how to reduce cyber risks to veterans. (b) Report required Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study under this section. 4. Cyber risks defined In this Act, the term cyber risks includes disinformation, identity theft, scams, and fraud, spread via the internet or social media.