Date: 2010-02-03
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Chair. I rise today in support of H.R. 4061. "The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2009." and I would like to thank my colleagues Representative LIPINSKI for introducing this measure. and Representative EHLERS. Representative Wu. Representative SMITH and Representative HALL for their contributions to gain bipartisan support on this very important legislation that we are considering today. This bill will help ensure a strategic plan for Federal Cybersecurity Research & Development (R&D) activities. strengthen publicprivate partnerships in cybersecurity. help train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. and improve cybersecurity technical standards. As we may recall. almost a year ago President Obama called for a comprehensive 60 day review of U.S. cyberspace policy. This review and the recommendations contained in the report led to a series of hearings on various aspects of cybersecurity R&D. including the state of research programs. partnerships with the private sector. the IT workforce. and how both NIST and the NSF are responding to the review. H.R. 4061 is built upon these hearings. and addresses the issues raised in the 60day review. Specifically. it aims to build strong publicprivate partnerships. improve the transfer of cybersecurity technologies to the marketplace. train an IT workforce for both the public and private sectors. and coordinate and prioritize Federal cybersecurity R&D. Of course cybersecurity research. standards setting. and education are only one piece of the recommendations of the 60day report. and are only part of the solution. However. it is the beginning to a wide spread need to improving the security of cyberspace is that is one of the utmost importance and it will take the collective effort of the Federal Government. the private sector. our scientists and engineers. and every American to succeed. Our Nations cyberinfrastructure is an interconnected combination of private. public and Government networks. It is critical that Government and industry work closely to protect both the infrastructure and the future of innovation. Giving them the tools to ensure they can protect themselvesaccess to timely actionoriented information and availability of insurance for cyber incidentsas well as encouraging critical cybersecurity R&D here in the U.S.. are the most important efforts our Administration can take to secure our cyberinfrastructure. While we have been fortunate so far in avoiding a catastrophic cyber attack. last year the Pentagon reported more than 360 million attempts to break into its networks. A 2009 Consumer Reports study found that over the past two years. one in five online consumers has been a victim of cyber crime. In 2008 the Department of Homeland Security logged 5.499 such cyber attack incidentsa 40 percent increase over the previous year. A 2007 Government Accountability Office report estimates the total U.S. business losses due to cyber attacks exceed $117.5 billion per year. I urge your support of this bill for we are all aware of the growing number of internet security incidents. involving such things as computer viruses. denial of service attacks. and defaced Web sites. These events have disrupted business and government activities. and have sometimes resulted in significant recovery costs. It is important that we take inventory of all systems that are vital to the functioning of the Nation. and do all we can to protect them. This certainly includes our computer networks systems that can be attacked anonymously and from far away. These networks are the glue that holds our Nations infrastructure together. An attack from cyberspace could jeopardize electric power grids. railways. hospitals and financial services. to name a few. Last fall. under the leadership of Congresswoman CLARKE. we passed a resolution recognizing National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Among other things this resolution contributed to an important education and awareness campaign. a national effort to make people aware of the problem. However. Federal leadership not only needed to increase public awareness. but also in research. education. and in demonstrating how to secure our own systems. Again. H.R. 4061 ensures an overall vision for the Federal cybersecurity R&D portfolio. trains the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. and improves cybersecurity technical standards. It is now time for a broadreaching. forwardthinking approach and the successful passage of H.R. 4061 is the beginning to bridge the gap and collaborate and coordinate with the private sector to conquer the many challenges to improve our countrys security through cybersecu rity. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee. I am committed to working with my colleagues. businesses. and educational institutions to enhance the development and implementation of existing and future cyber security standards that enhance the Nations security. Madam Chair. I support H.R. 4061.