[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 168 (Friday, November 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 4, 2011

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize October as the 
eighth annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The National 
Cyber Security Alliance, the Multi-State Information Sharing and 
Analysis Center, the Department of Homeland Security, and other 
organizations developed the ``STOP. THINK. CONNECT.'' national 
awareness campaign to educate our citizens and help them stay safer 
online. It is vital that the public is engaged and aware of how to 
properly utilize security software in order to protect their social 
security numbers, financial information, health information, and other 
personal data. We must all work together and take responsibility for 
securing our own networks and computers to ensure that government 
systems, personal data and even critical infrastructure remain safe 
from attack.
  Recently, Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn noted to Foreign 
Affairs magazine that our Nation is shifting its priorities in 
cyberspace, recognizing that attacks online can be as threatening as 
bullets and bombs. Additionally, the importance of cyber to not just 
our national security, but also our economic competitiveness, cannot be 
overstated. The vulnerabilities our Nation faces in cyberspace come 
from potential attacks against critical infrastructure, as described by 
Lee Hamilton in his post 9/11 report, as well as from damage to our 
military readiness, as Secretary of Defense Panetta testified earlier 
this year. But our vulnerabilities also include the intellectual 
property that is a critical driver of our economy.
  Cyber threats to our intellectual property are growing more numerous, 
sophisticated, and successful. As noted by a recent report from the 
National Counter Intelligence Executive, vital intellectual property is 
targeted and stolen in cyberspace every day as these threats become 
more damaging and extensive. While the cost of a data breach can run 
well into the millions, even that loss is dwarfed by the long term 
damage to America's ability to remain the world leader in innovation, 
especially in our high tech and defense sectors.
  All of this should tell us that the status quo is not good enough. We 
need to redouble our efforts and tap into our creative and innovative 
spirit to address not just the threats of today, but the challenges of 
tomorrow as well. This will require better education and action from 
both industry and government, as we come together to strengthen our 
public-private- partnership. But if we fail to leverage our own 
abilities and work through these challenges, our personal privacy, 
national security and economic competitiveness will be irreparably 
harmed.
  I applaud the Department of Homeland Security for sponsoring this 
month of outreach. As a Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of the House 
Cybersecurity Caucus, I will continue to fight to deliver the latest 
tools and training to support both our national security infrastructure 
and the personal data of all Americans.

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