Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced Monday legislation to deter and respond to state-sponsored malicious cyber activity against the United States.
The Cyber Deterrence and Response Act requires the administration to impose sanctions against all entities and persons responsible or complicit in malicious cyber activities aimed against the United States. It is a companion bill to H.R.5576, which was introduced in the House by Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL).
“This bipartisan legislation is another step that Congress and the Administration can take to deter foreign actors from carrying out cyberattacks against the United States,” Gardner said. “Our legislation will help provide additional tools for the Administration to impose significant costs against malicious cyber actors, including state-sponsored actors, around the world that aim to endanger U.S national security and our economy.”
Specifically, the act would require the president to designate as a “critical cyber threat actor” each foreign person or agency engaged in state-sponsored cyber activities that pose a significant threat to the national security, foreign policy, or financial stability of the United States. Then, once that designation is made, the bill mandates the president to impose sanctions.
“State-sponsored cyberattacks are a clear and persistent threat to United States,” Coons said. “Rivals like Russia, China, and Iran are enhancing their cyber capabilities and targeting our electoral process, financial system, and critical infrastructure. I’m proud to introduce the Cyber Deterrence and Response Act, which will expose and impose costs on states that try to use cyberattacks to undermine American security and prosperity.”