[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 697 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 697

 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness 
    Month and raising awareness and enhancing the state of computer 
                     security in the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 30 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

 Mr. Rockefeller (for himself and Mr. Bennett) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness 
    Month and raising awareness and enhancing the state of computer 
                     security in the United States.

Whereas the use of the Internet in the United States, to communicate, conduct 
        business, or generate commerce that benefits the overall United States 
        economy, is ubiquitous;
Whereas more than 216,000,000 people use the Internet in the United States, 70 
        percent of whom connect through broadband connections, to communicate 
        with family and friends, manage finances and pay bills, access 
        educational opportunities, shop at home, participate in online 
        entertainment and games, and stay informed of news and current events;
Whereas the nearly 27,000,000 United States small businesses, which represent 
        more than 99 percent of all United States employers and employ more than 
        50 percent of the private workforce, increasingly rely on the Internet 
        to manage their businesses, expand their customer reach, and enhance the 
        management of their supply chain;
Whereas nearly 100 percent of public schools in the United States have Internet 
        access to enhance children's education, with a significant percentage of 
        instructional rooms connected to the Internet to enhance children's 
        education by providing access to educational online content and 
        encouraging self-initiative to discover research resources;
Whereas almost 9 in 10 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17, or approximately 
        87 percent of that age group, use the Internet;
Whereas the number of children who connect to the Internet at school continues 
        to rise, and teaching children of all ages to become good cyber-citizens 
        through safe, secure, and ethical online behaviors and practices is 
        essential to protect their computer systems and potentially their 
        physical safety;
Whereas the growth and popularity of social networking websites has attracted 
        millions of teenagers, providing access to a range of valuable services, 
        making it all the more important to teach teenaged users how to avoid 
        potential threats like cyber bullies, predators, and identity thieves 
        they may come across while using such services;
Whereas cyber security is a critical part of the United States overall homeland 
        security;
Whereas the United States critical infrastructures and economy rely on the 
        secure and reliable operation of information networks to support the 
        United States financial services, energy, telecommunications, 
        transportation, health care, and emergency response systems;
Whereas cyber attacks have been attempted against the United States and the 
        economy of the United States, and the mission of the Department of 
        Homeland Security includes securing the homeland against cyber terrorism 
        and other attacks;
Whereas Internet users and information infrastructure owners and operators face 
        an increasing threat of malicious crime and fraud attacks through 
        viruses, worms, Trojans, and unwanted programs such as spyware, adware, 
        hacking tools, and password stealers, that are frequent and fast in 
        propagation, are costly to repair, and may disable entire systems;
Whereas coordination between the numerous Federal agencies involved in cyber 
        security efforts, including the Department of Homeland Security, the 
        National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the National Science 
        Foundation, is essential to securing the cyber infrastructure of the 
        United States;
Whereas millions of records containing personally identifiable information have 
        been lost, stolen, or breached, threatening the security and financial 
        well-being of United States citizens;
Whereas consumers face significant financial and personal privacy losses due to 
        personally identifiable information being more exposed to theft and 
        fraud than ever before;
Whereas national organizations, policymakers, government agencies, private 
        sector companies, nonprofit institutions, schools, academic 
        organizations, consumers, and the media recognize the need to increase 
        awareness of computer security and the need for enhanced computer 
        security in the United States;
Whereas the National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace, published in February 2003, 
        recommends a comprehensive national awareness program to empower all 
        people in the United States, including businesses, the general 
        workforce, and the general population, to secure their own parts of 
        cyberspace; and
Whereas the Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the National 
        Cyber Security Alliance and the Multi-State Information Sharing and 
        Analysis Center, has designated October 2008 as the fifth annual 
        National Cyber Security Awareness Month which serves to educate the 
        people of the United States about the importance of computer security: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Cyber 
        Security Awareness Month;
            (2) congratulates the National Cyber Security Division of 
        the Department of Homeland Security, the National Cyber 
        Security Alliance, the Multi-State Information Sharing and 
        Analysis Center, and other organizations working to improve 
        cyber security in the United States on the fifth anniversary of 
        the National Cyber Security Month during October 2008; and
            (3) continues to work with Federal agencies, national 
        organizations, businesses, and educational institutions to 
        encourage the development and implementation of voluntary 
        standards, practices, and technologies in order to enhance the 
        state of computer security in the United States.
                                 <all>