Date: 2006-11-14
Speaker: DANIEL E. LUNGREN (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for yielding. and I rise today in support the passage of House Resolution 993 to support the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month. This year. that month was in October. and while it is now November. I believe it is important to recognize the need for cyber security awareness not just in one month but throughout the entire year. The Internet and the computers we use on a daily basis have become commonplace in our lives. Over 205 million Americans use the Internet on a regular basis. and that number is growing. Companies. both large and small. increasingly rely on the Internet and information technology systems to manage their business. expand their customer reach and enhance their connection with their supply chain. With computers becoming less expensive and access to the Internet easier to accomplish. many dangers associated with online behavior are becoming more and more common. These threats range from spam. viruses and identity theft to complex computer attacks created by organized crime and terrorist organizations designed to steal personal financial information and create general havoc. The Internet has become an invaluable tool in educating our children. Almost 90 percent of all youth use the Internet. and the vast majority of those say they use the Internet at school. As more and more children use the Internet. it is important that they are taught to use this tool in a safe. secure and ethical way. This will not only protect their own systems from attack. but will protect their physical safety and help them become good cyber citizens. Cyber security is also a critical part of our Nations overall homeland security. In particular. the control systems that control and monitor our drinking water. our dams and other water management systems. our electrical grids. oil and gas supplies. our transportation systems and other critical manufacturing processes are connected to the Internet. It is possible for terrorist organizations to disrupt a number of our critical infrastructure systems and do serious damage to our economy without even entering our country. Clearly. with much of the Nations critical infrastrpcture connected to the Internet. appropriate cyber security practices are essential to our overall security. It is not just terrorists that seek to do harm via computers and the Internet. More and more criminal activity is occurring in borderless cyber space. Through the Internet. international criminals can attack our computers through virus. worms and unwanted programs such as spyware and password stealers that can cause significant financial and personal privacy losses due to identity theft and fraud. Organizations such as the National Cyber Security Alliance are making it their mission to increase awareness of cyber security practices and technologies to home users. students. teachers and small businesses. These organizations deserve to be recognized for their good work and supported as much as possible to spread the awareness of good cyber security. This organizations work is paying off. Cyber security awareness is growing. The Department of Homeland Security has recognized its importance by naming finally an Assistant Secretary for Cyber Security and Telecommunications. but there is much more work to be done. tKore government agencies. private sector companies. academic institutions. consumers and the media have to recognize the importance in establishing appropriate cyber security in their computers and information systems. We. as a Congress. have a large role to play in encouraging the use ofprcper cyber security practices and technologies throughout our country. National Cyber Security Awareness Month provides a solid platform from which to improve cyber security awareness in this country. and I am pleased that this Congress is supporting its goals and ideals. As I have said. we have much work to do. but being aware of the need for cyber security is a necessary. essential first step. I thank the gentleman for yielding.