Ten House Republicans and one Democrat yesterday introduced a bill to protect critical infrastructure in the United States from cyber attacks.
The Promoting and Enhancing Cybersecurity and Information Sharing Effectiveness Act of 2011 (H.R. 3674) authorizes the Department of Homeland Security to conduct an evaluation of cyber security risks to critical infrastructure and determine the best mitigation methods, the House Homeland Security Committee said.
The bill also creates the National Information Sharing Organization, a private-sector controlled, not-for-profit organization to develop best practices, provide technical assistance, and enable the sharing of cyber threat information across critical infrastructure and with the federal government, while also protecting privacy and civil liberties.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House panel, and Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, as well Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.).
“By providing a trusted information sharing infrastructure, we will provide critical infrastructure owners and operators the timely access to actionable cyber security information necessary to protect their own networks and facilities,” King said in a statement. “Cyber security is truly a team sport and this bill gives DHS needed authorities to play its part in the federal government’s cyber security mission and enables the private sector to play its part by giving them the information and access to technical support they need to protect critical infrastructure.”