Langevin: "Cybersecurity Should Not Be a Partisan Issue"

Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), co-founder of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, today spoke before the House Rules Committee to request a floor vote on his cybersecurity legislation as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which is under consideration this week. Langevin noted that similar provisions passed the House in last year’s defense bill without objection after he brought them to the floor as an amendment.

“Traditionally, no matter how fractious the debate in Washington becomes, we have put aside partisanship when it comes to protecting the American people,” said Langevin. “Cyber attacks pose a very real and dangerous threat to our national security, and my colleagues recognized this by approving similar language last year. The Director of the CIA has warned that the next Pearl Harbor could be a cyber attack, and we are quickly running out of time as other nations like China, Russia and Iran build their capabilities rapidly.  Let's not make our cybersecurity a partisan issue.”

In addition, Langevin emphasized the opportunity to make significant progress in light of the recent policy recommendations released by the White House, followed by hearings in the Senate. Last year, his amendment helped spark renewed action in the Senate and Langevin believes it is critical to seize the current momentum in the House.

Langevin’s proposal, which consists of the provisions of his Executive Cyberspace Coordination Act, includes a budget offset and would not add to the deficit. As in the amendment offered last year, the centerpiece of the legislation establishes a National Office of Cyberspace in the Executive Office of the President to address the lack of coordination and focus in our cybersecurity policy.

Remarks for Congressman James R. Langevin
Rules Committee Hearing on Amendments to HR 1540
The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2012

Chairman Dreier, Ranking Member Slaughter, Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of my amendment to H.R. 1540. I am introducing this amendment to the National Defense Authorization again this year, after having it successfully pass the House last year without objection.

My amendment would secure our government-owned IT networks from the massive data breaches and attacks that continue to plague our federal networks by implementing the recommendations of the CSIS Commission on Cybersecurity, last year’s committee work on Oversight and Government Reform, and several of the recent proposals released by the White House.

My amendment specifically focuses on coordination of efforts to secure our federal networks, develop smarter cyber policies and protect our critical infrastructure, such as the power grid, and establishes a National Cyberspace Office in the Executive Office of the President. This office will include strong authorities over agency information security policies, and will be responsible for coordinating the defense of our federal networks during a serious attack and establishing a national strategy to engage with the international community.

This language will also ensure that the new Cyberspace Office has strong budgetary oversight powers that are backed by financial pay-for-performance authorities and is accountable to Congress through reporting and Senate confirmation. These authorities are essential for this and any future Administration to get their arms around an issue as broad and challenging as protecting our country’s digital capabilities.

This amendment was included in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act last year and helped spark renewed action in the Senate on this critical issue. With so much progress underway in the Executive branch and among my colleagues in the other Chamber, I believe it is critical for the House to once again take a stand on this issue and make the investments necessary to protect our networks in cyberspace. 

While previous estimates, upon which our offset is based, may appear high, consider some of the costs of inaction.  Publicly reported cyber incidents have breached some of our most sensitive national security data, allowing a foreign intelligence agency to gain a “digital beachhead” on our classified and unclassified networks, and these threats across our government are accelerating, increasing 93% in 2010. Moreover, these larger investments, many of which have already begun at the direction of the White House, will yield huge efficiencies for our IT systems in the long run.

As this amendment builds on successful legislative action from last year, I respectfully ask that you once again rule it in order for consideration on the floor. Traditionally, no matter how fractious the debate in Washington becomes, we have put aside partisanship when it comes to protecting the American people. Cyber attacks pose a very real and dangerous threat to our national security, and my colleagues recognized this by approving similar language last year. The Director of the CIA has warned that the next Pearl Harbor could be a cyber attack, and we are quickly running out of time as other nations China, Russia and Iran build their capabilities rapidly. Let's not make our cybersecurity a partisan issue. Thank you for your time and I am happy to answer any questions.