Bipartisan legislation seeks to improve federal cybersecurity

U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) introduced legislation that will facilitate innovation and breakthroughs in cybersecurity.

The Cyber Leap Act of 2020 would establish cybersecurity grand challenges on improving the economics related to federal government cybersecurity. Based on the recommendations from the Cybersecurity Moonshot Initiative, it would also leverage open innovation authorities to hold a series of prize competitions. Further, it would allow funding for the challenges to be pooled from multiple federal agencies and non-federal entities.

“We need dynamic and ambitious solutions for cybersecurity, which is why I’m proud to partner with Chairman Wicker on the CYBER LEAP Act,” Gardner said. “This legislation would help foster innovation and collaboration as the public, private, and academic sectors work together to address the cybersecurity challenges of our time. We all must work together to protect our critical infrastructure and personal information.”

Wicker said the bill would foster innovation through cybersecurity competitions and be instrumental in encouraging American ingenuity.

“We put our nation at risk if we don’t invest in our cybersecurity workforce and infrastructure,” Rosen said. “As our world becomes more digitized, I’m proud to help introduce this bill to assist our nation in developing a cybersecurity workforce with the skills needed to protect and maintain information systems and improve critical federal agencies’ security and safety. I will continue to support forward-thinking legislation that ensures our 21st-century workforce is equipped with next-generation communications technologies to keep our nation safe.”