U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry // Serving the People of the 13th District of Texas

“Cybersecurity attacks are a direct threat to our economy and job creation, as well as our national security." 

At least 85 percent of what must be protected is owned and operated by the private sector. Government must tread carefully in this area or risk damaging one of our greatest strengths — dynamic, innovate companies and businesses that are the key to our economy and to cybersecurity advances.

House Speaker John Boehner asked me at the start of the 112^th Congress to lead an initiative on cybersecurity to focus the efforts of Congress to combat the growing national security and economic threat. 

The Task Force represented a broad cross-section of the House Republican Conference and the committees of jurisdiction on the issue of cybersecurity. In addition to myself, Members serving in the group included Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Mike Coffman (R-CO), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Robert Hurt (R-VA), Bob Latta (R-OH), Dan Lungren (R-CA), Mike McCaul (R-TX), Tim Murphy (R-PA), Steve Stivers (R-OH), and Lee Terry (R-NE). 

The Task Force formally delivered its report to the Speaker and Majority Leader in October of 2011. The report was an agreement between nine House committees with jurisdiction over cybersecurity issues that could serve as a framework for moving forward with cybersecurity legislation in the House.