U.S. Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) on Aug. 11 introduced legislation designed to protect COVID-19 research at America’s universities and research institutions against Chinese and Russian cyberattacks.
“Congress must act to safeguard critical scientific coronavirus research being conducted at universities nationwide,” said Rep. Barr, a member of the China Task Force, which is working to counter emerging threats from the Chinese Communist Party.
Rep. Barr sponsored the NIST COVID-19 Cybersecurity Act, H.R. 7998, with lead original cosponsor Rep. Lucas. The bill would require the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to disseminate guidance to institutions of higher education and nonprofit research institutions that would help mitigate cybersecurity risks to COVID-19 related research, according to the text of the bill.
“We’ve seen disturbing evidence of state-sponsored cyberattacks from the Chinese Communist Party directed at universities and organizations conducting vital research on combating COVID-19,” said Rep. Lucas, ranking member of the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. “This compromises our research efforts and delays our ability to identify vaccines and treatments.”
NIST, which currently sets cybersecurity standards and guidelines for federal agencies and provides voluntary best practices for private industry, would be tasked under H.R. 7998 with producing specific guidance based on its Cybersecurity Framework, which Rep. Lucas called “the gold standard for cyber protection.”
“Tailoring these guidelines for academia and research institutions will keep our data safe from theft and manipulation by foreign actors,” he added. “It’s a simple but strong way to protect American research and support the fight against COVID-19.”
H.R. 7998 has been referred for consideration to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.