Langevin Opening Remarks at NDAA Markup Address Cybersecurity and Special Operations Forces

As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) gave opening remarks at the House Armed Services Committee markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012, focusing on his subcommittee’s work to support the Special Operations forces that were responsible for the Osama bin Laden mission and key improvements to our cybersecurity:

“Thank you Mr. Chairman. I want to thank in particular all the members of the subcommittee for their efforts in crafting this important piece of legislation. I particularly recognize and thank Chairman [Mac] Thornberry for his leadership and his cooperative spirit and hard work in crafting this mark today. I agree with him in a bipartisan way that this is the best subcommittee of the committee. Again, I appreciate everybody’s work in that regard. 

“This mark supports a wide array of special capabilities by the Department, from an increase in funding for our exceptional Special Operations forces, who, as we know, recently took out Osama bin Laden, demonstrating incredible courage, patriotism and dedication as they always do. Additionally, it supports the newly established cyber command, CYBERCOM, led by General Keith Alexander, that protects our sensitive military information in cyberspace. 

“I am pleased that the mark fully supports the fiscal year 2012 request for science and technology policies and programs, particularly in areas supporting innovative technology capabilities and enhancing the S&T workforce. Of particular interest to me has been the Department’s work on directed energy. As we know, competitor nations are investing heavily in this area and given the technology’s potential for future use in fending off large raid sizes of short, or medium or long-range missiles, our mark increases the Department’s research into directed energy by $50 million.

“Finally, I am pleased to have added language that directs the Department to examine cyber threats to critical infrastructure, as well as threats to our networks from trusted insiders, such as the recent ‘Wikileaks’ incidents. Cybersecurity as we know is a critically challenging issue, because it is always such a moving target and the threats facing our country online cannot be met alone in a vacuum. This is why I am also supportive of language that would increase both bilateral international and private sector cyber cooperation efforts. I am glad that this mark addresses these issues and so many more.

“With that, I just want to thank Chairman Thornberry for his leadership, all the members of the subcommittee. Let me particularly recognize the extraordinary dedication and hard work of the staff, without whom this mark would not be possible. And with that, I thank the Chairman and yield back.”
 

Video

• Watch Rep. Langevin deliver his opening remarks