Slaughter Says Cybersecurity Legislation Will Protect Vital Data

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28) today praised the passage of legislation that would improve cybersecurity in the private and public sectors by training the next generation of security professionals.

“There’s no question that we’re living in a digital age and as we’ve become more dependent on IT we’ve become more vulnerable to vital information being compromised,” said Slaughter. “The information we learn from this research and coordination will better protect everything from your online bank statements to our federal government databases.”

Today the House passed the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, H.R. 4061, which will help ensure a strategic plan for federal cybersecurity R&D activities, strengthen public-private partnerships in cybersecurity, help train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, and improve cybersecurity technical standards.

“This legislation will promote partnerships between the public and private sectors and coordinate our national and international efforts to deal with cybersecurity more effectively,” said Slaughter. “Most importantly, we’ll train the next generation of professionals that will keep our precious information safe.”

Reports of cyber criminals and possibly nation-states accessing sensitive information and disrupting services have risen steadily in the last decade, heightening concerns over the adequacy of our cybersecurity measures. 

Slaughter presided over debate of the bill in the Rules Committee on Tuesday. She pointed out the importance of the legislation and was pleased to see its broad bipartisan support.