House passes U.S.-Israeli cybersecurity legislation

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) that aims to strengthen collaborative cybersecurity research and development efforts between the United States and Israel.

The bills, the United States-Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act (H.R. 5877) and the United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act (H.R. 5843), both passed the House unanimously and now await a vote in the Senate.

“Israel is a vital strategic partner, and I’m pleased to be working closely with Rep. Langevin to preserve and strengthen this important bond through joint cybersecurity efforts,” Ratcliffe said. “Cybersecurity is national security, and enhancing joint research and development efforts between the United States and Israel will improve our countries’ ability to deter malicious cyber actors.”

The research partnership bill expands a binational research and development program from the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency to include cybersecurity technology.

The cybersecurity cooperation enhancement bill will create a cybersecurity grant program for joint research and development ventures between Israeli and and American organizations.

The Secretary of Homeland Security will determine research requirements with help from an advisory board made up of members from successful U.S.-Israeli partnerships, such as the U.S.-Israeli Binational Science Foundation and the U.S.-Israeli Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation.