Congress

New bills look to help small water systems tap cybersecurity assistance

New legislation looks to set aside $10 million to help subsidize fees for small utilities to join the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center.

  • By Carten Cordell

Rampant ID theft targets pandemic benefits, watchdogs say

Cross-checking data and implementing validation methods for digital identity verification – like mobile driver's licenses – could help secure state systems, officials said.

  • By Natalie Alms

EPA seeks funding to improve the cybersecurity of America’s water systems

The Environmental Protection Agency aims to invest $4 billion in upgrades to the nation’s water and wastewater infrastructure with a strong focus on cybersecurity.

  • By Chris Riotta

New cybersecurity bill authorizes DHS to ramp up incident response efforts nationwide

The National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act gives the Department of Homeland Security a range of opportunities to bolster cybersecurity preparedness at the state and local level, including and technical assistance services.

  • By Chris Riotta

New bill looks to modernize 50-year-old rulebook for federal-state cooperation

A new Senate bill would require updated guidance and a strategic plan on intergovernmental cooperation, specifically how agencies can give technical and specialized services to states and local governments.

  • By Natalie Alms

EMP attack on power grid could take down DOD systems, experts warn

A worst-case scenario could take out parts of the grid for years, according to some studies, and although equipment exists that can prevent such damage, Congress and the power industry cannot agree on action.

  • By William Jackson

A Simpson-Bowles panel for government IT?

The long-standing deadlock on government spectrum and cybersecurity policies could use input from some serious deal-makers.

  • By Paul McCloskey

Dem, GOP platforms expose divide over cyber defense

Acknowledging Congress' failure to pass cybersecurity legislation, Democrats assert the president’s willingness to act on his own through executive order.

  • By William Jackson

'Destructive' cyber attacks ahead, NSA's Alexander warns

The National Security Agency chief wants network-speed info sharing with the private sector to protect critical infrastructure, but insists NSA won't have time to read your e-mail.

  • By William Jackson

McCain’s retooled Secure IT act still a privacy threat, critics say

The controversial bill has been amended to protect civil liberties, but fails to win over critics who see it as an expansion of military authority and a threat to personal privacy.

  • By William Jackson

UN regulation of Internet: 'The threat is real'

Opposition to proposals to extend international regulations to the Internet is bipartisan and seemingly unanimous across U.S. government and industry.

  • By William Jackson

Administration 'prematurely declaring victory' on IT reforms, GAO says

Despite improvements in the efficiency of federal IT spending, the Obama administration's reform program has a long way to go, an official told a Senate subcommittee.

  • By William Jackson

Critical industries don't grasp IT risks, study shows

A Carnegie Mellon study shows that energy companies and utilities lag behind the more highly regulated financial services industry in cybersecurity and privacy protection.

  • By William Jackson

House wraps up Cyber Week by passing two more security bills

The two recent bills, which address cybersecurity standards, research and education, passed with little opposition.

  • By William Jackson
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House passes CISPA, despite veto threat

The first two cybersecurity bills being considered in the House during "Cyber Week," CISPA and the Federal Information Security Amendments Act, passed April 26; two more bills are to be considered today.

  • By William Jackson

Iran a more dangerous cyber threat than China or Russia, experts tell Congress

Iran's willingness to attack the United States and its plans for cyber war capability make it a serious threat, a panel of experts said during a House hearing.

  • By William Jackson

Rep. Langevin: Cyber law dithering endangers US critical infrastructure

Congress should set aside partisan differences to pass legislation that would require cybersecurity standards to protect U.S. critical infrastructure.

  • By Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.)

CISPA debate heats up in House as vote nears

Both sides agree on the need to better share threat information, but disagreement on how to protect privacy threatens the bill.

  • By William Jackson

Security pros not ready for attacks, still don't want government regs

Respondents in a new survey expect to be hit by cyberattacks and have failed to adequately secure their systems, but they also do not want government regulation.

  • By William Jackson

Major cyberattack on US 'inevitable,' experts tell Congress

Without government mandates to secure critical infrastructure, a damaging cyberattack on the nation will happen, experts tell a House panel.

  • By William Jackson

Anti-CISPA 'Stop Cyber Spying Week' protest gets under way

Internet advocacy groups oppose the information-sharing bill, which does have the support of some heavy industry hitters.

  • By Kevin McCaney