Cybersecurity
As a member of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, protecting our national and economic security against cyber threats is one of my top priorities. Every day, Americans are using the internet to do their banking, shopping, schooling, social networking, and more. The more information we put online, the more vulnerable we are to cyber intrusions, whether they affect the privacy of our data or the integrity of the systems we rely on every day. That's why I will continue to fight for the strongest possible cybersecurity for Americans, while still preserving the civil liberties we cherish.
The Cyberspace Solarium Commission
One of my proudest accomplishments in cybersecurity policy is my work as a member of the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC). The CSC was established by the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 in order to develop a strategic approach to defending the United States in cyberspace. The CSC comprises members of Congress, executive agency leaders, and cyber experts from the private sector.
After more than a year of meetings and hundreds of interviews, here is what we know – the United States has not achieved cyber deterrence, meaning hackers are not afraid of the risk of attacking our nation's cyber infrastructure. The U.S. has weathered deliberate attacks on our elections, cyber incidents targeting cities and towns, and data breaches at corporations that hold the personal data of millions of American consumers. We need a national cyber strategy that makes adversaries think twice before targeting us and ensures we are resilient in the face of their operations. The CSC released a report on March 11, 2020, that contained over eighty recommendations on how to implement a national cyber strategy of layered cyber deterrence. Some highlights include:
1.) Establishing an Office of the National Cyber Director in the White House led by a Senate-confirmed director to develop and implement a national cyber strategy and serve as the president’s primary adviser on cyber issues;
2.) Establishing a House permanent select committee and Senate select committee on cybersecurity to ensure all branches of the federal government are actively working on coordinated cybersecurity efforts; and
3.) Strengthening the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) so that the agency can better coordinate cybersecurity efforts at all levels of government and the private sector
I am proud to have introduced the National Cyber Director Act to begin implementing the CSC’s critical recommendations. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make the rest of our recommendations a reality.
Cybersecurity Efforts in Rhode Island
Cyberspace can be overwhelming, but internet safety doesn’t have to be. I always enjoy working with partners throughout the state to keep my constituents informed about how to protect themselves while browsing online or posting on social media. I often host events at libraries and senior centers to give constituents with questions about online safety the chance to engage with the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit and other local officials. If you’d like to stay informed of these events, sign up for my newsletter.
Finding help after a cyber-attack shouldn’t be complicated. I’m thrilled that Rhode Island is home to the nation’s first statewide cybercrime support and recovery line. Victims of cybercrime often find themselves unsure of where to turn, but by dialing 2-1-1 on a landline or cell phone, Rhode Islanders have access to the resources to report and recover from identity theft, financial fraud, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and other cybercrimes.
The hotline is managed through a partnership between the Cybercrime Support Network, the United Way of Rhode Island, and the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center. I am pleased to have secured the $282,600 in federal funding to make the hotline possible, and I am proud that Rhode Island is serving as a model for the rest of the country.
Committee and Caucus Work
Cybersecurity and national security are inextricably intertwined, and I’m proud to bring my years of cybersecurity experience to the House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Homeland Security.
I currently serve as the Chairman for the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities, which handles issues related to cybersecurity. I also serve on the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, & Innovation.
In September 2008, I partnered with Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and founded the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus. The Caucus helps educate members and staff about cyber-related issues while also providing a nonpartisan forum to discuss the future of cybersecurity policy. We believe the Caucus is important because there are multiple House committees that have the authority to create cybersecurity policy, and that can sometimes divide the attention of Congress. The Cybersecurity Caucus helps streamline our work in the cyber arena.
Some of the country's most formative cyber policies started as bills that I worked on in committee. The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 authorizes private companies to implement defensive measures to counter cyber threats, and it incentivizes those companies to voluntarily share information about their cybersecurity work with the federal government. This information sharing is critical for cooperation between the private sector and all levels of government.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2018 created the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the Department of Homeland Security. CISA is responsible for identifying cyber threats, sharing information, and coordinating a response to cyber incidents. The creation of CISA was an important step in ensuring we have a federal agency dedicated to protecting federal government networks and our critical infrastructure from malicious cyber actors
As part of the John McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, military cyber operations were designated as "traditional military activity." In other words, Congress empowered our service members to fight our adversaries in cyberspace just as they would in the air, the ocean, or on land. The policy authorizes our military leaders to engage in cyber operations because evolving technologies have made cyberspace an integral part of thebattlefield. This policy ensures that our military is better prepared and better equipped to defend the nation today and in the future
I was proud to take part in crafting these landmark cyber policies, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to further expand the United States' national cyber defense strategy.
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