U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) on March 28 resurrected his bipartisan proposal to restructure cyber operations at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“To ensure the continued success and strength of DHS’ cyber mission, we must remain laser focused to more effectively streamline and enhance vital cybersecurity operations,” said Rep. McCaul, chairman of the U.S House Homeland Security Committee.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017, H.R. 3359, which Rep. McCaul introduced in July 2017, would restructure the DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
If enacted, H.R. 3359 would require that CISA be headed by a director of National Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security to lead national efforts to protect and enhance the security and resilience of U.S. cybersecurity, emergency communications, and critical infrastructure, according to the congressional record summary. CISA would be composed of DHS components reorganized as: the Cybersecurity Division; the Infrastructure Security Division; and the Emergency Communications Division, which now is the Office for Emergency Communications. “CISA must carry out DHS’s responsibilities concerning chemical facilities antiterrorism standards,” according to the summary.
H.R. 3359 already has received approval from the U.S. House of Representatives, which on Dec. 11, 2017 passed the measure on a voice vote. The bill on Feb. 7 was referred to the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has held hearings on it.
The new fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending package signed into law on March 23, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, H.R. 1625, includes cybersecurity-related funding, according to the congressman’s staff. For instance, the omnibus spending bill includes provisions to strengthen the nation’s cyber defenses, including electoral infrastructure, with extra funds for the NPPD and $380 million in grant money to the Election Assistance Commission for states to improve how they administer federal elections.
While these actions will do much to improve our cybersecurity capabilities, there is more work to be done, according to a statement from Rep. McCaul’s office. The congressman said the bill would restructure NPPD into a “stand-alone operational organization, better focused on its vital missions to strengthen the security of federal networks and our nation’s critical infrastructure, including electoral, while bolstering our civilian cyber-defenses.”
Rep. McCaul said he looks forward “to working with my colleagues in the Congress and the Administration to get this to the President’s desk as soon as we can.”
The bipartisan H.R. 3359 has 11 U.S. House cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-TX), John Katko (R-NY), Dan Donovan (R-NY), and Bennie Thompson (D-MS).