House advances bill to codify DHS continuous diagnostics, mitigation program

The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a bill this week to codify the continuous diagnostics and mitigation (CDM) program at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The bill, the Advancing Cybersecurity Diagnostics and Mitigation Act (H.R. 6443), would require the development of procedures for reporting systemic cybersecurity risks, the regular deployment of new technologies, and a strategy to ensure ongoing improvements to the program.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. John Ratcliffe’s (R-TX), advanced the House without opposition. It now moves to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

“The CDM program has proven to be an indispensable tool for DHS and NPPD (National Protection and Programs Directorate) in identifying and defending against cyber threats to our federal networks. Codification will help promote its ongoing success and improvement, so we can ensure our federal network protection efforts keep pace with the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape,” Ratcliffe said.

As chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, Ratcliffe has conducted rigorous oversight of the CDM program.

“I’m grateful for the strong, bipartisan support of my House colleagues in passing my CDM codification bill today, and I’m hopeful the Senate will act swiftly to advance this important measure on behalf of our national security,” Ratcliffe said.