Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Legislation Establishing Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Program At Department Of Homeland Security Can Now Be Considered By Entire Senate
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Senator Rosen’s bipartisan Department of Homeland Security Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve Act advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee with broad, bipartisan support. This legislation, which Rosen introduced with Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), would establish a Civilian Cybersecurity Reserve pilot program within the Department of Homeland Security. This program would boost efforts to recruit qualified civilian cybersecurity personnel to serve in reserve capacities to ensure the U.S. government has the talent needed to respond to cyberattacks, especially at times of greatest need.
“Cyberattacks continue targeting the United States with increasing frequency, stretching thin our current capacity to defend our nation,” said Senator Rosen. “It’s why I’m glad my bipartisan legislation to create a civilian cybersecurity reserve has passed out of committee. As a former computer programmer, I will continue working to ensure our nation has the capacity to deter and swiftly respond to cyberattacks.”
As the first and only former computer programmer to serve in the U.S. Senate, Senator Rosen has led the fight to strengthen the United States’ cybersecurity. Last Congress, Senator Rosen introduced her bipartisan Healthcare Cybersecurity Act, which would improve cybersecurity in the Health Care and Public Health Sector. Senator Rosen has introduced bipartisan bills to bolster the cybersecurity of medical devices and records from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, both of which were signed into law. Last year, she led a bipartisan group of 22 senators in a letter to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas asking for a briefing on how the Department of Homeland Security is protecting Americans from possible Russian cyberattacks.
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