McMorris Rodgers’ cyberthreat-fighting bill advances to Senate

The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday approved a bipartisan cyberthreat-fighting bill offered by U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and on Tuesday sent the bill to the U.S. Senate for action.

“Today, bad actors from around the world target and exploit Americans online,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers, ranking member on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. “In order to keep people safe from criminals who wish to do them harm, we must have the tools we need to take action against foreign cyber threats. That’s what this legislation provides.”

The House passed the U.S. SAFE WEB Extension Act, H.R. 4779, which Rep. McMorris Rodgers sponsored in October with cosponsors U.S. Reps. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) to extend the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers beyond Borders (U.S. SAFE WEB) Act of 2006 an additional seven years through 2027.

If enacted, H.R. 4779 also would enable “the Federal Trade Commission to step in, address international threats online, and protect Americans’ sensitive or financial information,” the congresswoman said.

“This bill is also essential to protecting cross-border data flows with foreign nations, which is critical to American technological innovation and maintaining our competitive advantage against authoritarian countries like China,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.

The Senate referred the bill to the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee for consideration.