The president on Tuesday signed into law a bipartisan, bicameral bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) that will bolster cybersecurity systems at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The newly signed law, the Strengthening VA Cybersecurity Act of 2022, H.R. 7299, was introduced in March by U.S. Reps. Frank Mrvan (D-IN), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), and Nancy Mace (R-SC). At the same time, Sen. Blackburn cosponsored the identical S. 3863 in her chamber with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
“President Biden has signed my bipartisan bill with @SenJackyRosen into law to protect veterans’ personal information and strengthen cybersecurity at the Department of Veterans Affairs,” Sen. Blackburn tweeted Wednesday afternoon.
The law will protect veterans’ personal information by requiring the VA Secretary to obtain an independent cybersecurity assessment of the VA’s information systems and submit to Congress a plan to address the cybersecurity weaknesses found in the assessment, according to the congressional record bill summary.
“The VA is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, providing care to millions of veterans,” said Sen. Blackburn. “But a lack of key preparedness and inadequate budget management in cybersecurity has left many of our veterans vulnerable to malicious cyberattacks.
“This bipartisan legislation is a critical component of the VA’s modernization and security enhancement,” she added.
The bill previously received endorsements from AMVETS and the Paralyzed Veterans of America.