House Members Join Together to Help State, Local Governments Secure Networks

February 11, 2020 by Dan McCue
House Members Join Together to Help State, Local Governments Secure Networks
Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y. (Photo by Dan McCue)

WASHINGTON – Seven House members have come together in a bipartisan effort to help state and local governments address cybersecurity weaknesses in their networks.

The lawmakers engaged in the effort are Reps. Cedric Richmond, D-La., John Katko, R-N.Y., Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Md., Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Mike Rogers, R-Ala.

They note that in recent years, state and local governments have been particularly rich targets for America’s cyber adversaries and the frequency of these attacks is accelerating. 

In 2019 alone, the representatives say, ransomware attacks crippled state and local agencies in Louisiana, the City of Baltimore, 22 towns in Texas, a school district in Syracuse, and many other communities scattered across the country.

In response, they’ve introduced the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act.

The Act:

·       Establishes a $400 million Department of Homeland Security grant program that incentivizes states to increase their own cybersecurity funding;

·       Requires DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) develop a strategy to improve the cybersecurity of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments;

·       Requires state, local, tribal, and territorial governments develop comprehensive Cybersecurity Plans to guide use of grant dollars;

·       Establishes a State and Local Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee so state, local, tribal, and territorial governments can advise CISA on their cybersecurity needs.

“The State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act is a critically important piece of legislation that provides state and local governments the tools they need to significantly invest in their cybersecurity infrastructure,” said Rep. Richmond, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee’s Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection & Innovation Subcommittee.

“Louisiana has long been vulnerable to cyber attacks, and this bill offers the resources needed to ensure protection against potential threats. I’m proud to introduce this comprehensive measure to give Louisiana and other states across the country the proper framework they need to implement vital cybersecurity plans,” he said.

Rep, Katko, the ranking member on the subcommittee, said cyber attacks in central New York and the Syracuse School District, illustrate how the continued use of ransomware by bad actors is “leaving municipalities vulnerable and facing massive costs.”

“That’s why I am proud to join members on both sides of the aisle in introducing bipartisan legislation to provide state and local officials with the necessary funds and guidance to allow them to be prepared for, respond to, and recover from cyberattacks,” he said.

“With cyber security threats on the rise, the federal government should be devoting more attention and resources to combating cyber threats,” Rep. Kilmer agreed. “Cyber attacks could threaten our election systems, municipally-owned water treatment facilities, local emergency responder networks, or other vital government systems that impact our communities.”

The bill is scheduled to be marked up by the Committee on Homeland Security on Wednesday.

The panel’s chairman, Rep. Thompson, said, “For too long, our state and local governments have had to fend for themselves as foreign adversaries and cyber criminals have targeted their networks.”

“Making smart investments in cybersecurity at the state and local level is not only fiscally responsible, it is a national security imperative,” he said.

Link to Bill Text.

Link to Bill Fact Sheet.

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