House Bill Would Develop Cyber Education, Network Security in K-12
Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA) has introduced the Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act, which would develop a K-12 cybersecurity program to train students, provide valuable lessons, disseminate best practices, and recommend online security tools that school districts and states can purchase. Under the bill’s terms DHS would also work with school technology vendors to identify best practices […]
House Task Force Prepares Legislation on Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
The House Armed Services Committee’s supply chain task force has spent three months analyzing the Defense Department’s problems in that area. It is now ready to release a report, to be followed by legislative proposals in July, just in time for potential inclusion in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. “Our goal was to not […]
Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Act Would Create Training Programs
The Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Act – introduced by Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) – would create two new training programs to improve the federal cybersecurity workforce. One would be an apprenticeship program based out of Homeland Security’s CISA, the other at Veterans Affairs, targeted toward veterans. The CISA apprenticeship program would […]
Small Business Advocates Share CMMC Concerns with Congress
Small business owners have warned the House Committee on Small Business that uncertainty over the costs and timeline of the CMMC could push them...
Langevin Says DoD Needs Principal Cyber Advisor Appointed ASAP for CMMC
Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI) is calling on the Biden administration to fill the vacant position of Principal Cyber Advisor for the Department of Defense,...
Senator Gillibrand Announces Renewed Data Protection Act of 2021
On June 17, 2021, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced the reintroduction of the Data Protection Act, which would create an independent federal agency, the Data Protection Agency, to “regulate high-risk data practices and the collection, processing, and sharing of personal data.” The bill was first introduced in 2020 and has since been revised to include […]
Carrots and Sticks Proposed for “Systemically Important Critical Infrastructure”
Seeking a middle ground between the growing pressure to regulate critical infrastructure, and the traditionally voluntary standards for systems owned by private corporations, some...
Senators Urge Education Dept. to Promote Cybersecurity Uses of Relief Funds
Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have written to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, pointing out that some of the federal funds available to schools for COVID-19 relief can be spent on cybersecurity, and encouraging the agency to “engage with school districts to increase awareness of the critical need for prioritizing stronger cybersecurity measures.” […]
Local Officials Ask Senate for More Cyber Grants
A group of state and local officials told the Senate Homeland Security Committee that they’re very interested in cybersecurity grants to support their agencies, even as the prospects for such a program remain unclear. The assistant director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety said that even with FEMA designation a larger percentage of funds […]
Mandatory Breach Notification Requirements for Government Contractors are Almost Here
President Biden’s newly released Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity represents a comprehensive approach to tackling cybersecurity threats in the U.S. and will...