The House on Monday evening approved several bipartisan bills including one authorizing Customs and Border Protection and another that codifies much roles and responsibilities the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has related to cyber security.
The National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act (H.R. 3696), which passed by voice vote, clarifies DHS’ roles and responsibilities for protecting federal civilian networks and it also strengthens the role of the department’s cyber watch center, the National Cybersecurity Communications and Integration Center, in facilitating the sharing of threat data with the private sector and the public sector at different levels of government.
“This bipartisan bill establishes a true partnership between DHS and the private sector to ensure the distribution of real-time cyber threat information in order to secure our nation in cyberspace without burdensome mandates or regulations,” Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee and a sponsor of the bill, said in a statement.
The United States Customs and Border Protection Authorization Act (H.R. 3846), which provides authorization of the border, maritime, and transportation security responsibilities and functions in DHS and the establishment of CBP, also passed unanimously by voice vote. The bill authorizes the border security agency for the first time since it was stood up in 2003.
Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security, said in a statement that the authorization bill will “protect the agency’s mission by providing our officers and agents proper authorities to carry out their important work.”
The House also approved by voice vote the Critical Infrastructure Research and Development Advancement Act (H.R. 2952), requires DHS to provide Congress a strategic plan that guides the direction of federal physical and cyber security research and development efforts for protecting critical infrastructure. The plan would include critical infrastructure security risks and related technology gaps, emphasize technologies that need to be accelerated, and have roadmaps for R&D and acquisition.
The Homeland Security Cybersecurity Boots-on-the-Ground Act (H.R. 3107), approved by a 395-8 vote, calls for DHS to develop and issue comprehensive job classifications for its cyber security workers, providing clarity to the hiring process.
In a 400-0 vote, the House also passed the Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act (H.R. 3202), which requires DHS to prepare a comprehensive security assessment of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. Some in Congress are concerned that TWIC has provided minimal enhancements to port security.