Letter to The Honroable John A. Boehner

Letter

Dear Mr. Speaker:

President Obama has described the growing number of attacks on our cyber networks as "one of the most serious economic and national security threats our nation faces." During a hearing held by the Committee on Homeland Security on September 8, 2011, three distinguished witnesses echoed the President's sentiment regarding the threat posed to our cyber networks. Specifically, former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, Former 9/11 Commissioner, Representative Lee Hamilton, and Comptroller General Gene Dodaro testified that enhancing the Department of Homeland Security's authority cybersecurity capabilities and capacity is essential to strengthening our Nation's cybersecurity posture.

Since the establishment of the Committee on Homeland Security as a standing committee in the 109th Congress, the security of our Nation's federal IT and critical infrastrucure has been a central focus of Members of the Committee on both sides of the aisle. Under Democratic control in the 110th and 111th Congresses, the Committee held one dozen oversight hearings on targeted aspects of this homeland security challenge. As you may be aware, we introduced legislation both this and last Congress to close cybersecurity gaps identified through the Committee's oversight efforts. Thus far, during the 112th Congress, Representative Lungren, as Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies, has continued the Committee's oversight into the security of our Nation's cyber networks, most especially critical infrastructure networks, by convening three cybersecurity hearings.

According to recent media reports, the Republican House Cybersecurity Task Force, the formation of which you announced in June, is currently compiling recommendations on cyber issues and legislation to be represented to Republican Leadership for their consideration in October. As leaders, on on an authorizing committee with experience working in a bipartisan manner on cybersecurity, we urge you move any legislative package through the House via regular order. we also request your commitment that the Committee on Homeland Security, a panel with an extensive record of oversight on cybersecurity issues, will be afforded the opportunity to work in a bipartisan fashion to produce forthcoming cybersecurity legislation.

You recently stated Mr. Speaker, "American jobs and national security depend upon our Nation's ability to innovate and dominate information technology fields." We share your view about the criticality of the IT sector. That is why we stand ready to work in a bipartisan manner to produce cybersecurity legislation to help protect not only the IT sector but all the other sectors in our economy that rely on it.

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Sincerely,
Bennie G. Thompson
Yvette D. Clarke

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