“I applaud the President for taking decisive action to improve our nation’s defenses against cyber attacks. The President’s new Executive Order will significantly advance cybersecurity in the networks of our nation’s critical infrastructure, and will facilitate more rapid, more effective sharing of time-sensitive threat information between the government and private sector. I hope this measure will also help us develop the broader awareness and capability needed to enable companies throughout the private sector to protect consumers and stem the loss of jobs and economic growth caused by intellectual property theft.

“As the President has rightly noted, the new Executive Order is no substitute for legislation, which is essential to address current gaps in authority. Until Congress acts, President Obama will be fighting to defend this country with one hand tied behind his back. I am eager to work with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to develop and advance legislation as soon as possible.”

“The Senate has been working to develop comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to improve our nation’s cyber security and we hope to pass a bill this summer. The security of our computer networks is woefully inadequate, and the threats against them are growing more sophisticated each day. Cyber crime, cyber industrial espionage and cyber attacks cost American businesses and consumers billions of dollars per year and threaten our economy and our national security. In Nevada, cyber security experts have specifically identified casino databases as tempting targets for cyber attacks. It is time to create the proper authorities and enhance the tools to protect the computer networks that are so crucial to our daily lives.

“Cyber security proposals from the White House will be an important part of this effort, and I look forward to working with the Committees to integrate their work with the President’s proposals in coming weeks, and build on the protections created by key bills passed during the last Congress. We also look forward to continuing to work with the private sector and other key stakeholders to ensure that our efforts enhance security, increase American competitiveness and protect the privacy of individuals and businesses.”

Background:

·         A summary of the President’s cyber security proposals can be found here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/12/fact-sheet-cybersecurity-legislative-proposal.

·         The actual text of the President’s proposals may be found here:

o   Breach notice

o   Critical Infrastructure Provisions

o   Data Center

o   FISMA Reform

o   General Authorities

o   Law Enforcement

o   Personnel

·         Section-by-section descriptions can be found here.

·         Key bills from 111^th Congress: S. 773, S. 1490, S. 3193, and H.R. 5026.

·         Key bills from the 112^th Congress: S. 21, S. 413; Joint Staff Discussion Draft.