Katko proposes package of three bipartisan cybersecurity infrastructure bills

U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) on July 13 introduced three separate bipartisan bills to bolster America’s cybersecurity infrastructure.

“The time for our nation to take cybersecurity seriously is far overdue. Underscoring this fact, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, American businesses and governments, as well as individuals working from home, have experienced a significant uptick in cyberattacks,” said Rep. Katko, ranking member of the U.S. House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation. “As a nation, it’s clear we must do better to prepare for and respond to these attacks.”

Rep. Katko sponsored the bipartisan Strengthening the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2020, H.R. 7588, with lead cosponsor U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD), which would mandate a comprehensive review of CISA in an effort to strengthen its operations, improve coordination, and increase oversight of the agency.

Specifically, H.R. 7588 would require CISA to review how additional appropriations could be used to support programs for national risk management, federal information systems management, and public-private cybersecurity and integration, and would require a review of workforce structure and current facilities and projected needs, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Katko’s office.

Rep. Katko also sponsored the bipartisan Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director and Assistant Directors Act, H.R. 7589, with lead cosponsor U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) to establish term limits for CISA directors, including a five-year term for the CISA director with a limit of two terms.

Additionally, Rep. Katko sponsored the bipartisan CISA Public-Private Talent Exchange Act, H.R. 7590, with cosponsor U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) to establish in CISA a pilot program that would carry out a talent exchange program between the private sector and the CISA to facilitate the exchange of ideas, strategies and concepts between federal and private-sector cybersecurity professionals.

The measures introduced by Rep. Katko are key recommendations from this year’s inaugural report from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a congressionally chartered commission.

“These commonsense measures were recommended by the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, a bipartisan commission tasked with developing and recommending a  thorough national strategy for improving American cybersecurity,” said Rep. Katko. “In today’s digital and ever-changing world, we must act now to ensure our nation is protected.”