Three Wyden Technology Bills Endorsed by Commerce Committee

"NET Guard," Cyber Security, Anti-SPAM legislation now moves to Senate consideration

May 17, 2002

"Technology can help America recover from a crisis, give us the tools to combat terrorism, and enrich our daily lives," said Wyden. "These three bills will help America marshal its technology forces to respond to problems, prepare for the threats of the future, and protect people from unwanted intrusions into their Internet use."

The Science and Technology Emergency Mobilization Act, S. 2037, offers science and technology experts and entrepreneurs a doorway into the Federal government – a place to offer their expertise, equipment and new technology ideas to prevent and respond to terror attacks and other disasters that cripple technology and communications systems. The legislation creates a 'National Emergency Technology Guard,' or NET Guard, of volunteers with technology and science expertise available to be mobilized on short notice. The bill also creates a Center for Civilian Homeland Security Technology Evaluation, a national clearinghouse for evaluating innovative technologies relating to emergency prevention and response. It also funds a pilot project to help local law enforcement and emergency response entities make their communications systems work together for cross-communication in disaster situations.

The Cyber Security Research and Development Act, S. 2182, seeks to significantly increase amount of cybersecurity research being done, coordinate the research efforts of government, academia, and industry, and educate more cybersecurity researchers to deal with threats that may arise in the future. The bill would provide $978 million in grant funds to create research programs housed at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The bill also requires the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to Congress on the nation's critical technology infrastructure vulnerabilities. The Cyber Security Research and Development Act is a companion to H.R. 3394, the cyber security bill introduced by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) and approved 400-12 by the House in February of this year.

Sens. Wyden and Burns first introduced anti-spam legislation in 2000. The CAN SPAM Act, S. 630, requires e-marketers to comply with a set of rules aimed at empowering consumers with greater choice over "spam," or unsolicited e-mails. The Act would require e-marketers to include a working return e-mail address to allow recipients the option of refusing further e-mails and prohibit e-marketers from using falsified subject lines. It also provides strong enforcement provisions to ensure compliance, including steep civil fines, the possibility of lawsuits by state attorneys general and Internet service providers, and criminal liability for "spammers" who intentionally disguise their identities.

All three bills were offered as substitute amendments to the original legislation. The substitute amendment for the Cyber Security bill includes new modifications requested by Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) to encourage graduate students to teach in the field of cybersecurity and to strengthen the government's computer security practices.

Wyden's three bills are now available for placement on the Senate Calendar, at the discretion of the Majority Leader, for consideration by the full Senate.