Legislation seeks to bolster cybersecurity efforts

Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) recently introduced a bill designed to bolster cybersecurity efforts by requiring a cyber-vulnerabilities disclosure program (VDP) to address deficiencies.

The Public-Private Cybersecurity Cooperation Act would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish a VDP initiative, enabling DHS’ cyber systems vulnerabilities to be easily reported and fixed. It is a companion bill of legislation of the same name sponsored by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), which advanced the House earlier this year.

“At a time when cyber threats are on the rise, the United States government must protect itself,” Portman said. “Doing so involves drawing upon the vast expertise of hackers and security experts in our country to identify vulnerabilities and report them to the people in a position to fix those flaws in our systems. I look forward to working with my colleagues to swiftly enact this common sense, bipartisan proposal.”

Hassan said the bill encourages ethical hackers to come forward with information they find about vulnerabilities in government networks by assuring them that if they do, they’ll have protection under the law.

“Sen. Portman has been a strong partner in working to strengthen our country’s cybersecurity, including through our work together on the bipartisan Hack DHS Act,” Hassan said. “And I look forward to continuing to work together to move both of these common-sense bills forward.”