[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 29, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PROTECTING CYBER NETWORKS ACT (H.R. 1560) NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY 
             ADVANCEMENT PROTECTION ACT OF 2015 (H.R. 1731)

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                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 29, 2015

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, last week I voted against H.R. 1560. With 
two bills on the floor with the same purpose to improve public-private 
cybersecurity information sharing, I simply prefer the alternative 
legislation, the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act of 
2015 (H.R. 1731).
  I commend the Select Committee on Intelligence for their efforts to 
produce quality, effective legislation to increase public-private 
cybersecurity information sharing. However, it made more sense to me 
that this information sharing would be channeled through the existing 
National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) 
already in place under the Department of Homeland Security, as provided 
in H.R. 1731. I am concerned that this bill would provide too many 
opportunities for mistakes as cybersecurity information would be shared 
by private entities with any civilian Government agency of their 
choice. With so many government entities eligible to receive this 
information, and then pass it on to other government organizations, 
H.R. 1560 would not ensure protection of private personal information.
  A coalition of 18 security researchers and 36 privacy organizations, 
including the American Civil Liberties Union, have similar concerns, 
and while I applaud the effort to move forward to address cybersecurity 
issues, it's critical to get the privacy protections right.
  I recognize the importance of establishing cybersecurity legislation. 
and support the Administration's position that information sharing 
legislation must carefully safeguard privacy and civil liberties and 
provide for appropriate sharing with targeted liability protections.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing the 
Protecting Cyber Networks Act and support the National Cybersecurity 
Advancement Protection Act of 2015.

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