Cyberattack Standards Study Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, recent cyber attacks targeting the personal data of Americans make it clear cyber is a new domain of warfare that threatens personal information, financial security, and the physical safety of our citizens. Last week, millions more were affected when the Office of Personnel Management's network was compromised.

This complicated nature of cyber defense means we need a clear standard of measurement for assessing the damage of attacks on our citizens and to affected computer systems and devices. It is for this reason that I have introduced the Cyberattack Standards Study Act today to instruct the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of the FBI, and the Secretary of Defense, to define a method of quantifying cyber incidents for the purpose of determining a response.

Recent cyber attacks are a sobering reminder that Congress, all government agencies, and private companies and citizens need to work together to better protect our public and private networks now.

I appreciate the research of legislative director Taylor Andreae and military fellow Major Jacob Barton for their service in providing the ability to establish this legislation.

In conclusion, God bless our troops and may the President by his actions never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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