Date: 2015-04-22
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak on the Rule governing debate on H.R. 1731 and H.R. 1560. I support the Rule for H.R. 1731 and H.R. 1569 because it: 1. provides for consideration of important improvements to both bills. 2. makes clear the role of the Department of Homeland Security in securing civil government networks. and 3. the responsibilities of DHS in assist private sector entities in improving overall cybersecurity for themselves and their customers. The bipartisan process that the Homeland Security Committee followed through the leadership of Chairman MCCAUL and Ranking Member THOMPSON is an example of what can be accomplished when partisanship is removed from the policymaking equation. I would also like to thank Chairman SESSIONS and Ranking Member SLAUGHTER as well as members of the Rules Committee for making 4 of my amendments in order. I join my colleagues in the work to secure our nations cybersecurity. while preserving the privacy and civil liberties of our citizens. The road to today began in 2011. when President Obama took several steps to move the issue of cybersecurity to the forefront by: 1. releasing a cybersecurity legislative proposal. 2. calling on Congress to take urgent action to give the private sector and government the tools needed to combat cyber threats at home and abroad. and 3. issuing the International Strategy for Cyberspace to make clear to nations abroad that the United States was firmly committed to improving cybersecurity and combating cyber terrorism. I will be offering several amendments as the two bills are considered. The Jackson Lee amendments are simple and will improve the privacy protections already in the bills and allow the Department of Homeland Security to become a better partner with the private sector in its work to improve domestic cybersecurity. One of the Jackson Lee amendments that will be offered to the both bills will improve privacy and civil liberties by providing the public with a report from the Government Accountability Office that their privacy and civil liberties are not being compromised by the programs established by this bill. Other Jackson Lee Amendments to H.R. 1731 will include an assurance that DHSs remains current on innovations: 1. on data security that can improve privacy and civil liberties protections. 2. in industrial control systems to keep pace with industry adoption of new technologies. and industry best practices. and 3. that can aid DHS in aligning federally funded cybersecurity research and development with private sector efforts to protect privacy and civil liberties. These amendments will make sure that technology and equipment purchased with taxpayer dollars provided to ensure cybersecurity will remain current and focused on realworld applications that reflect constitutional values and how businesses and industry function. An important building block for improving the Nations cybersecurity is ensuring that private entities can collaborate to share timely cyber threat information with each other and the Federal Government. The Administration is expressing concerns with H.R. 1560s broad liability protections offered to companies that sharing information with federal government programs established under this bill. Appropriate liability protections should be established that incentivize good cybersecurity practices and would not grant immunity to a private company for failing to act on information it receives about the security of its networks. The important component of cybersecurity is that computer network owners and managers will act to improve cyber defense of their systems when provided with information that vulnerabilities in their computer networks exist. Legislation should not provide incentives for companies not to act when presented with evidence of network cyber security vulnerabilities. Electronic data breaches involving Sony. Target. Home Depot. Neiman Marcus. JPMorgan Chase. and Athem are only a few of the cyber incidents that have plagued private sector networks. These data breaches also are a reminder that the Internet is not yet what it must become to continue to meet the remote communication needs of a global marketplace. As with other threats this nation has faced in the past and overcome we must create the resources and the institutional responses to protect our nation while preserving our liberties and freedoms. We cannot accomplish the task of better cybersecurity without the cooperation and full support of citizens. the private sector. local state and federal government. computing research community. and academia. This level of cooperation requires the trust and confidence of the American people that the actions taken by government to combat cyber threats will not threaten our way of life nor our hard fought Constitutional rights. H.R. 1731 makes clear that the Department of Homeland Security will be the federal government agency responsible for securing civilian government networks and supporting voluntary efforts by private sector companies and institutions to improve coordination and response to cyber security threats. The issues regarding liability protection related to cybersecurity must be addressed in order for H.R. 1560 and H.R. 1731 to have any chance of succeeding. It is my understanding that Chairman MCCAUL and Ranking Member THOMPSON have reached agreement on language that addresses concerns that have been raised regarding liability. There are talented and resourceful people outside and inside of government who can inform Congress on approaches to information sharing that will yield the desired results without compromising privacy or civil liberties.