U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently introduced the Intragovernmental Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, which seeks to ensure cybersecurity information is shared between the Executive Branch, the Senate and House of Representatives cybersecurity personnel.
“As we have recently seen, cyberattacks are increasing against our critical infrastructure as well as the federal government,” said Portman, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “Unfortunately, some of the cybersecurity professionals in Congress have faced lengthy delays in getting information on cybersecurity threats from the Executive Branch. That should not be the case. Our cyber adversaries move quickly and do not distinguish between branches of government—we need a unified and coordinated defense.”
The bill would ensure the Sergeant at Arms, the Doorkeeper of the Senate, and the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives receive direct, timely, and actionable Executive Branch cybersecurity information.
“Cybersecurity threats against our government require a timely, coordinated response,” Klobuchar, chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee, said. “Yet too often a lack of communication between the Department of Homeland Security and Congress leaves us vulnerable to damaging cyberattacks.”
According to Klobuchar, the measure would enhance protections against cyberattacks by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to increase cybersecurity information sharing with Congress.
“Foreign adversaries, like the Russian government, and cybercriminals continue to target our nation’s most essential public and private networks,” said Peters, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “That is why our different branches of government must work together to bolster the security of all federal systems, including those in Congress, that store a considerable amount of sensitive information.”