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Floor Speech

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Mr. KIM. Madam President, I rise today because across this country Americans are reading headlines about the impacts of cyber security threats that make us less safe. Let me read to you three from just yesterday: From Reuters, ``Cyber defenders sound the alarm as F5 hack exposes broad risks''; from a TV station in Tennessee, ``Cyber attack closes La Vergne offices''; and from the Nevada Current, ``Nevada's recent cyber attack shows the importance of shoring up security for election systems.''

All of these are a reminder that we must do everything we can to be able to protect our communities. There is one thing we can do right here today. Today, we can pass the bipartisan Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act, introduced by Senators Peters and Rounds. This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015, groundbreaking legislation that has served as a catalyst of Federal and private sector cooperation on the real and consequential cyber security threats facing our Nation.

For a decade, this program has had broad bipartisan support because of its positive impact on our Nation's cyber security landscape.

Cyber attacks are real, and America's adversaries will not wait until our government is reopened before waging these attacks on our critical infrastructure, on small businesses, and vulnerable populations, such as the elderly.

That is why we need to safeguard future collaboration and make sure that the companies still working with Agencies during this shutdown are not penalized. This legislation would do just that. Private and Federal cooperation is necessary to ensure that we are putting our best foot forward in keeping the data of all Americans safe and protecting consumers from the most devastating consequences of cyber attacks, such as identity theft and financial loss.

These are the facts: Malicious cyber attacks on our Nation's critical infrastructure--such as our healthcare facilities, electrical grid, and more--are becoming more frequent, impactful, and sophisticated.

Prior to this authority, non-Federal entities did not have a readily available method of sharing cyber threat information.

Every day that goes by that this operation goes without reauthorization, both Federal Agencies and private entities risk not knowing the extent of current cyber threats and the resources needed to mitigate those threats.

Just last October, media reports surfaced about Salt Typhoon, one of the largest telecommunications hacks in U.S. history, carried out by hackers sponsored by the People's Republic of China. It is insane to think that almost a year after reporting on such a catastrophic event, that we would even consider not passing legislation specifically focused on these types of national security issues.

We must do better, and today we have an opportunity to make a commonsense decision that will support national security and keep Americans safe from cyber attacks.

I urge my colleagues to act and pass the Protecting America from Cyber Threats Act.

Madam President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 182, S. 2983; that the Peters substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

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