Two bipartisan Katko bills included in new cybersecurity report

Two measures authored by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) are included among a list of recommendations to improve cybersecurity across public and private sectors in the newly released Cyberspace Solarium Commission report.

“In today’s digital world, our national cyber policy has not kept pace with an evolving threat landscape, and must be strengthened,” Rep. Katko said. “With the release of this report, I am looking forward to working with members on both sides of the aisle to implement the commission’s bipartisan and commonsense recommendations to ensure our country is secure from and resilient to cyberattacks.”

The bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission, established in 2019, is tasked with developing a comprehensive national strategy for improving American cybersecurity.

Specifically, the commission’s recent report includes recommendations from Rep. Katko’s bipartisan Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Reform Act, H.R. 5679, and his bipartisan Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Authorization Act of 2019, H.R. 1975.

H.R. 5679, which Rep. Katko sponsored on Jan. 27 with lead cosponsor U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), would limit to five years the term of the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide stability at CISA. The bill also would limit the number of terms to two and establish qualifications for the position.

H.R. 1975, which Rep. Katko sponsored in March 2019 with cosponsor U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL), would require DHS to establish a cybersecurity advisory committee within the CISA to consult on the development, refinement and implementation of policies, programs and security directives pertinent to the mission of CISA, according to the congressional record summary. U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) were also original cosponsors of the measure.

“As ranking member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation, I applaud the Cyberspace Solarium Commission for developing and releasing its much-anticipated report,” said Rep. Katko.