House passes three bills designed to strengthen efforts against cyber threats

July 31, 2014 | By Dibya Sarkar

The House on July 28 passed a trio of bipartisan bills designed to bolster cybersecurity in the critical infrastructure sector and support the Homeland Security Department's new cybersecurity workforce.

The National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act (H.R. 3696) would establish a partnership between DHS and the private sector regarding distribution of real-time cyber threat information, said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee. The bill passed by a voice vote.

"A successful cyber attack on our nation's water systems, oil and gas pipelines, power grids and mass transit systems on the scale of the recent retail breaches could cause crippling economic damage and could even cost lives," he said in astatement. "The reality is the threat is outpacing our readiness to combat it."

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Another bill, the Critical Infrastructure Research and Development Advancement Act (H.R. 2952), is aimed at improving DHS's ability to develop advanced technology. It also passed by a voice vote.

The third bill called the Homeland Security Cybersecurity Boots-on-the-Ground Act (H.R. 3107) would help DHS recruit, hire and train its cyber workforce. It passed by a vote of 395-8.

"With their passage, the House will have taken meaningful action to move the ball forward on improving our Nation's cybersecurity posture," said ranking member Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., in the statement about the three bills.

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