06.11.15

McConnell Urges Passage Of Bipartisan Cybersecurity Legislation To Deter Future Attacks

WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the bipartisan cybersecurity amendment:

“In just a moment, the Senate will consider an important cybersecurity measure.

“I urge every one of my colleagues to support it.

“USA Today recently cited a cybersecurity expert who noted that this ‘Senate legislation has the potential to greatly reduce the number of victims targeted’ by the kind of hackers we’ve seen in recent attacks.

“It contains modern tools to:

“Help deter future attacks against both the government and the private sector.

“Provide them with knowledge to erect stronger defenses, and.

“Get the word out faster about attacks when they’re detected.

“The top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee reminded us that the cybersecurity measure before us would also protect ‘individual privacy and civil liberties.’

“She has urged Congress to ‘act quickly’ to deter a threat that is ‘impossible to overstate.’ The White House has also urged Congress to act.

“The new Congress has been asked to act, and today we are — with a good, strong, transparent, bipartisan measure that’s been thoroughly vetted by both parties in committee and that’s been available online for months for anyone to read.

“It was endorsed by nearly every Democrat and every Republican in committee, 14 to 1. It’s also backed by a broad coalition of supporters, everyone from the Chamber of Commerce to the U.S. Telecom Association.

“It’s legislation that’s all about protecting our country, which is why it makes perfect sense to consider it alongside defense legislation with the same aim. 

“Cybersecurity amendments can be offered and debate will continue.

“Let’s work together to advance this measure. There are now 4 million extra reasons for Congress to act quickly.

“The sooner we do, the sooner we can conference it with similar legislation that passed the House and get a good cybersecurity law enacted to help protect our country.”

Related Issues: Cybersecurity, NDAA