Democrats and Republicans have more work to do to bridge differences in creating cyber security legislation that can pass the Congress, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said on the Senate floor recently.
“Everyone knows this Congress can’t pass laws that don’t have broad, bipartisan support,” Reid said. “So, we’ll need to work together on a bill that addresses the concerns of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.”
Reid said that before broader bipartisanship can be achieved in Congress, “more of my Republican colleagues need to start taking this threat seriously.” Cybersecurity vulnerabilities and threats threaten the nation’s national and economic security, Reid said.
The House has already passed several cyber related bills this year, although with lukewarm bipartisan support. That legislation is focused on improved information sharing between the private sector and the intelligence community but avoids measures the White House and many Democrats want to give the Department of Homeland Security authorities to help set and then enforce minimum cyber security standards for critical infrastructure, most of which is in the private sector.
In the Senate, Senators Joseph Lieberman (I/D-Conn), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) have introduced a bill that would create authorities for DHS to enforce minimum cybersecurity standards in the private sector. However, competing legislation from seven Republican senators would not give DHS such enforcement authority and would make compliance with any best practices voluntary.
Reid said that Republicans need to “participate productively in the conversation, instead of just criticizing the current approach.” He added that “There is room for more good ideas on the table.”