Cybersecurity: The U.S. Legislative Agenda Part II

In this briefing, Cybersecurity: The U.S. Legislative Agenda; Part II, Melissa Hathaway provides an analysis of more than 50 pieces of legislation that are being debated in the 111th Congress. She updates her May 2010 briefing by highlighting recent congressional activity, including the release of three Government Accounting Office (GAO) studies and the introduction of thirteen new pieces of legislation. With few legislative days left in this Congress, she highlights two bills that have potential to become law during the "lame duck" session. The wide range of topics addressed in these bills include proposed changes to organizational responsibilities; instituting compliance and accountability mechanisms; implementing data accountability standards and reporting requirements for personal data privacy, data breach handling and identity theft; enhancing cybersecurity education; advancing research and development grants; evaluating critical electric infrastructure protection and conducting vulnerability analysis of other critical infrastructures; expanding international cooperation on cybercrime; and addressing procurement, acquisition and supply-chain integrity. Clearly, cybersecurity is a topic of interest and this briefing highlights the cross-jurisdictional purview of the subject. She concludes this briefing with key questions for the 112th Congress to hold public briefings and hearings to champion transparency and discourse on cybersecurity. There is a need to have a dialogue about what is really needed to address this problem comprehensively.

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