The top Democrat and Republican in the Senate are working together to help resolve differences in various bills related to cyber security that have been put forth by a number of committees with the aim to bring legislation to the Senate floor, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I/D-Conn.) said recently.
Lieberman, a proponent of cyber security legislation and chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have already met with the chairs and ranking members together of the six committees that have jurisdiction over various aspects of cyber security.
That “shows how seriously the bipartisan leadership of the Senate takes the cyber security challenge,” Lieberman said during a hearing his committee held to examine the Obama administration’s recent proposals to help move the cyber security legislation toward law. He said the new proposals will “bring about the needed changes this year to make the Internet safer and more secure.”
Much of the cyber-security legislation was introduced last year but differences between the bills were not resolved. However, Lieberman said his committee and the Senate Commerce Committee, both of which have much of the jurisdiction over cyber legislation, have already resolved most, but not all, of their differences.
He also said that in the meetings with Reid and McConnell there were still differences. It “is not a partisan debate,” but rather one based on “economic growth and security” issues, Lieberman added.
He said that the need for cyber security legislation can’t be understated. Without it, “the Internet is going to become a digital Dodge City,” Lieberman said, adding that with approved legislation there will be “a new sheriff in town and we’re going to have some law and order around here.”
A key area of agreement between the White House proposals and Lieberman’s legislation is the need for the Department of Homeland Security to have the lead in protecting the dot.gov and dot.com domains of the Internet. A key difference is that Lieberman’s bill creates a White House cyber security office with a Senate-confirmed leader. The White House proposals don’t call for this office or person.