[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 120 (Tuesday, August 2, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S5254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. GILLIBRAND (for herself and Mr. Hatch):
  S. 1469. A bill to require reporting on the capacity of foreign 
countries to combat cybercrime, to develop action plans to improve the 
capacity of certain countries to combat cybercrime, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to reintroduce the 
International Cybercrime Reporting and Cooperation Act with Senator 
Kirsten Gillibrand, which if enacted, will establish a framework for 
global cooperation on the fight against cybercrime. As the United 
States continues to work on combating cybercrime here at home, we must 
simultaneously direct our attention to the international arena. With 
bipartisan support and valued input from affected industry, we have 
worked together on drafting a bill that encompasses reporting measures, 
action plans, and multilateral efforts in support of government 
cooperation to dismantle this global threat.
  This bill increases the U.S. Government's focus on combating 
cybercrime internationally by requiring the President, or his designee, 
to annually report to Congress on the assessment of the cybercrime 
fighting efforts of the countries chosen by key federal agencies in 
consultation with private sector stakeholders. The countries to be 
reviewed are those with a significant role in efforts to combat 
cybercrime impacting U.S. Government, entities and persons, or 
disrupting U.S. electronic commerce or intellectual property interests.
  Cyberspace remains borderless, with no single proprietor. 
Accordingly, the United States must take the lead on maintaining the 
openness of the Internet, while securing accountability. If a country 
is a haven for cybercrime, or simply has demonstrated a pattern of 
uncooperative behavior with efforts to combat cybercrime, that nation 
must be held accountable. The government of each country must conduct 
criminal investigations and prosecute criminals when there is credible 
evidence of cybercrime incidents against the U.S. government, our 
private entities or our people.
  With so many U.S. companies doing business overseas, we must do our 
part to safeguard their employees, their jobs, and their clients from 
cyber attacks. Our objective is simple: We need international 
cooperation to increase assistance and prevention efforts of cybercrime 
from those countries deemed to be of cyber concern. Without 
international cooperation, our economy, security, and people will 
continue to be under threat.
  Cybercrime is a tangible threat to the security of our global 
economy, which is why we need to coordinate our fight worldwide. Until 
countries begin to take the necessary steps to fight criminals within 
their borders, cybercrime havens will continue to flourish. Countries 
that knowingly permit cybercriminals to attack within their borders 
will now know that the United States is watching, the global community 
is watching, and there will be consequences for not acting.
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