Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. OGLES. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 2659, the Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act.

Earlier this year, I introduced this legislation because the United States is facing an increasingly coordinated and persistent effort by malicious cyber actors linked to the Government of the People's Republic of China, the PRC. These groups represent one of the most serious national security challenges confronting our Nation today.

Reports from Federal agencies and private-sector partners over the past several years have shown that Chinese state-sponsored cyber actors, including Volt Typhoon, Salt Typhoon, and other PRC-affiliated groups, have been targeting the systems and services that Americans rely on every single day.

In committee, there has been testimony that 98 percent of our municipalities operate under cybersecurity poverty, meaning they don't have the resources to defend themselves. These intrusions have affected communication providers, energy operators, water systems, transportation networks, and other sectors that are fundamental to public safety and economic stability.

What has become clear is that these actors are not simply trying to collect information. In many cases, they have attempted to position themselves inside sensitive systems for long periods of time, for years, in some cases, before being discovered.

Their activity indicates preparation for the possibility of major disruption during a time of crisis, including potentially over Taiwan. This is a serious strategic concern, and it demands a serious national response.

These groups often use advanced techniques that allow them to operate quietly within everyday system activity. They rely on legitimate tools and access privileges to conceal malicious behavior. This makes detection extremely difficult and allows intrusions to remain unnoticed until long after a compromise has taken place.

While Federal agencies have taken important steps to respond, the overall effort has revealed significant challenges in the way our government organizes its cybersecurity responsibilities. Multiple agencies share roles in protecting critical infrastructure, but they operate under different missions, structures, and authorities. Through fast-moving or complex incidents, these differences can slow the exchange of information and create uncertainty about responsibility and response actions.

H.R. 2659 addresses these gaps by directing the creation of a joint interagency task force led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CISA, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This task force will bring together the agencies that serve as sector risk management agencies, along with the intelligence community and other Federal partners with responsibility for critical infrastructure security.

The goal is straightforward: Federal actions must be aligned, coordinated, and based on a shared understanding of the threat environment.

The legislation also requires the task force to provide Congress with a detailed initial assessment, followed by annual reports for 5 years. These reports will offer insight into the tactics used by PRC- affiliated cyber actors, vulnerabilities across sectors, the potential impacts of disruptions during a major crisis, and any additional tools or authorities Federal agencies may need.

Classified briefings will ensure that Congress receives timely and accurate information necessary to evaluate our nationwide posture.

This bill strengthens unity and effort. It improves coordination. It increases visibility and accountability. It ensures that the United States can respond to foreign cyber aggression with preparation rather than reaction.

H.R. 2659 reflects lessons learned from real-world incidents. It elevates our national approach to cybersecurity, and it helps protect American communities from adversaries who are actively working to compromise the systems that support our way of life.

We cannot let a bureaucracy stand in the way of defending our Nation's cybersecurity. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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