In Bipartisan Achievement, Meehan-Led Cyber Bills Pass House
WASHINGTON, DC— The House of Representatives today passed groundbreaking cybersecurity legislation co-sponsored by Congressman Patrick Meehan (PA-07). Meehan chairs the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies.
The House passed three cybersecurity bills tonight that improve the federal government’s ability to prevent and respond to cyberattack, enhances protections for critical infrastructure and bolsters cooperation between government and the private sector in the effort to prevent incursions. All three were passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.
The National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, introduced by Meehan and Reps. Michael McCaul (TX-10), Bennie Thompson (MS-02) and Yvette Clarke (NY-10), strengthens our nation’s efforts to protect the homeland from a cyber attack on our critical infrastructure while protecting the privacy rights of law-abiding Americans.
“The cyber risk is among the most serious our nation faces today,” said Congressman Meehan. “Terrorist groups like Hamas, nation-states like Iran, China and Russia and criminal gangs across the world are constantly attempting to breach our systems. But existing laws that have been on the books for years are not designed to cope with the threat. This bill– the result of consultations with hundreds of stakeholders across government, the private sector and privacy advocates – will enable government and the private sector work together to prevent and defeat cyber attacks. And it does it while being, in the words of the ACLU, both ‘pro-privacy and pro-security’. I’m grateful to Chairman McCaul for his leadership on this issue.”
The House also today passed H.R. 2952, the Critical Infrastructure Research and Development Advancement Act, which improves the ability of the Department of Homeland Security to research and procure technology for the protection of critical infrastructure.
“This bill is a bipartisan accomplishment,” said Meehan. “It’s the product of collaboration between Republicans and Democrats, the Department of Homeland Security and other stakeholders. We identified a problem – barriers that prevented the Department from acquiring the best equipment available to protect the homeland – and we worked together to solve it. This bill will protect Americans by strengthening DHS’ ability to develop the latest technology to stay one step ahead of terrorists who wish to do us harm. I thank the Ranking Member of our subcommittee, Rep. Clarke, for cosponsoring this legislation and I’m grateful to all my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for their support today.