Bill targets federal cybersecurity information sharing

U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently praised the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) for advancing the Intragovernmental Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act.

The bill seeks to ensure cybersecurity information sharing between operational cybersecurity staff in the executive branch and the Senate and House of Representatives.

“As we have recently seen, cyberattacks are increasing against our critical infrastructure as well as the federal government. 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,” Portman, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said. “Our cyber adversaries move quickly and do not distinguish between branches of government—we need a unified and coordinated defense.”

The legislation would ensure cybersecurity defenders in Congress work collaboratively and directly with cybersecurity defenders in the executive branch and require regular reporting to Congress on implementation status.

“Cybersecurity threats against our government require a timely, coordinated response. Yet too often, a lack of communication between the Executive Branch and Congress leaves us vulnerable to damaging cyberattacks,” Klobuchar, chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee, said. “This bipartisan legislation will better protect us against cyberattacks by requiring the Executive Branch to increase cybersecurity information sharing with Congress.”

Additionally, the bill ensures the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate and the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives receive direct, timely, and actionable cybersecurity information from the executive branch.

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