[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 30, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5080-H5084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             STATE AND LOCAL CYBERSECURITY IMPROVEMENT ACT

  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5823) to establish a program to make grants to States to 
address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to information 
systems of State, local, Tribal, or territorial governments, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5823

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``State and Local 
     Cybersecurity Improvement Act''.

     SEC. 2. STATE AND LOCAL CYBERSECURITY GRANT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Subtitle A of title XXII of the Homeland 
     Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new sections:

     ``SEC. 2215. STATE AND LOCAL CYBERSECURITY GRANT PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Director, shall establish a program to make grants to States 
     to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats to 
     information systems of State, local, Tribal, or territorial 
     governments (referred to as the `State and Local 
     Cybersecurity Grant Program' in this section).
       ``(b) Baseline Requirements.--A grant awarded under this 
     section shall be used in compliance with the following:
       ``(1) The Cybersecurity Plan required under subsection (d) 
     and approved pursuant to subsection (g).
       ``(2) The Homeland Security Strategy to Improve the 
     Cybersecurity of State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial 
     Governments required in accordance with section 2210, when 
     issued.
       ``(c) Administration.--The State and Local Cybersecurity 
     Grant Program shall be administered in the same program 
     office that administers grants made under sections 2003 and 
     2004.
       ``(d) Eligibility.--
       ``(1) In general.--A State applying for a grant under the 
     State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program shall submit to 
     the Secretary a Cybersecurity Plan for approval. Such plan 
     shall--
       ``(A) incorporate, to the extent practicable, any existing 
     plans of such State to protect against cybersecurity risks 
     and cybersecurity threats to information systems of State, 
     local, Tribal, or territorial governments;
       ``(B) describe, to the extent practicable, how such State 
     shall--
       ``(i) enhance the preparation, response, and resiliency of 
     information systems owned or operated by such State or, if 
     appropriate, by local, Tribal, or territorial governments, 
     against cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats;
       ``(ii) implement a process of continuous cybersecurity 
     vulnerability assessments and threat mitigation practices 
     prioritized by degree of risk to address cybersecurity risks 
     and cybersecurity threats in information systems of such 
     State, local, Tribal, or territorial governments;
       ``(iii) ensure that State, local, Tribal, and territorial 
     governments that own or operate information systems within 
     the State adopt best practices and methodologies to enhance 
     cybersecurity, such as the practices set forth in the 
     cybersecurity framework developed by the National Institute 
     of Standards and Technology;
       ``(iv) promote the delivery of safe, recognizable, and 
     trustworthy online services by State, local, Tribal, and 
     territorial governments, including through the use of the 
     .gov internet domain;
       ``(v) mitigate any identified gaps in the State, local, 
     Tribal, or territorial government cybersecurity workforces, 
     enhance recruitment and retention efforts for such 
     workforces, and bolster the knowledge, skills, and abilities 
     of State, local, Tribal, and territorial government personnel 
     to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats;
       ``(vi) ensure continuity of communications and data 
     networks within such State between such State and local, 
     Tribal, and territorial governments that own or operate 
     information systems within such State in the event of an 
     incident involving such communications or data networks 
     within such State;
       ``(vii) assess and mitigate, to the greatest degree 
     possible, cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats 
     related to critical infrastructure and key resources, the 
     degradation of which may impact the performance of 
     information systems within such State;
       ``(viii) enhance capability to share cyber threat 
     indicators and related information between such State and 
     local, Tribal, and territorial governments that own or 
     operate information systems within such State; and

[[Page H5081]]

       ``(ix) develop and coordinate strategies to address 
     cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats in consultation 
     with--

       ``(I) local, Tribal, and territorial governments within the 
     State; and
       ``(II) as applicable--

       ``(aa) neighboring States or, as appropriate, members of an 
     information sharing and analysis organization; and
       ``(bb) neighboring countries; and
       ``(C) include, to the extent practicable, an inventory of 
     the information technology deployed on the information 
     systems owned or operated by such State or by local, Tribal, 
     or territorial governments within such State, including 
     legacy information technology that is no longer supported by 
     the manufacturer.
       ``(e) Planning Committees.--
       ``(1) In general.--A State applying for a grant under this 
     section shall establish a cybersecurity planning committee to 
     assist in the following:
       ``(A) The development, implementation, and revision of such 
     State's Cybersecurity Plan required under subsection (d).
       ``(B) The determination of effective funding priorities for 
     such grant in accordance with subsection (f).
       ``(2) Composition.--Cybersecurity planning committees 
     described in paragraph (1) shall be comprised of 
     representatives from counties, cities, towns, and Tribes 
     within the State receiving a grant under this section, 
     including, as appropriate, representatives of rural, 
     suburban, and high-population jurisdictions.
       ``(3) Rule of construction regarding existing planning 
     committees.--Nothing in this subsection may be construed to 
     require that any State establish a cybersecurity planning 
     committee if such State has established and uses a 
     multijurisdictional planning committee or commission that 
     meets the requirements of this paragraph.
       ``(f) Use of Funds.--A State that receives a grant under 
     this section shall use the grant to implement such State's 
     Cybersecurity Plan, or to assist with activities determined 
     by the Secretary, in consultation with the Director, to be 
     integral to address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity 
     threats to information systems of State, local, Tribal, or 
     territorial governments, as the case may be.
       ``(g) Approval of Plans.--
       ``(1) Approval as condition of grant.--Before a State may 
     receive a grant under this section, the Secretary, acting 
     through the Director, shall review and approve such State's 
     Cybersecurity Plan required under subsection (d).
       ``(2) Plan requirements.--In approving a Cybersecurity Plan 
     under this subsection, the Director shall ensure such Plan--
       ``(A) meets the requirements specified in subsection (d); 
     and
       ``(B) upon issuance of the Homeland Security Strategy to 
     Improve the Cybersecurity of State, Local, Tribal, and 
     Territorial Governments authorized pursuant to section 2210, 
     complies, as appropriate, with the goals and objectives of 
     such Strategy.
       ``(3) Approval of revisions.--The Secretary, acting through 
     the Director, may approve revisions to a Cybersecurity Plan 
     as the Director determines appropriate.
       ``(4) Exception.--Notwithstanding the requirement under 
     subsection (d) to submit a Cybersecurity Plan as a condition 
     of apply for a grant under this section, such a grant may be 
     awarded to a State that has not so submitted a Cybersecurity 
     Plan to the Secretary if--
       ``(A) such State certifies to the Secretary that it will 
     submit to the Secretary a Cybersecurity Plan for approval by 
     September 30, 2022;
       ``(B) such State certifies to the Secretary that the 
     activities that will be supported by such grant are integral 
     to the development of such Cybersecurity Plan; or
       ``(C) such State certifies to the Secretary, and the 
     Director confirms, that the activities that will be supported 
     by the grant will address imminent cybersecurity risks or 
     cybersecurity threats to the information systems of such 
     State or of a local, Tribal, or territorial government in 
     such State.
       ``(h) Limitations on Uses of Funds.--
       ``(1) In general.--A State that receives a grant under this 
     section may not use such grant--
       ``(A) to supplant State, local, Tribal, or territorial 
     funds;
       ``(B) for any recipient cost-sharing contribution;
       ``(C) to pay a demand for ransom in an attempt to regain 
     access to information or an information system of such State 
     or of a local, Tribal, or territorial government in such 
     State;
       ``(D) for recreational or social purposes; or
       ``(E) for any purpose that does not directly address 
     cybersecurity risks or cybersecurity threats on an 
     information systems of such State or of a local, Tribal, or 
     territorial government in such State.
       ``(2) Penalties.--In addition to other remedies available, 
     the Secretary may take such actions as are necessary to 
     ensure that a recipient of a grant under this section is 
     using such grant for the purposes for which such grant was 
     awarded.
       ``(i) Opportunity To Amend Applications.--In considering 
     applications for grants under this section, the Secretary 
     shall provide applicants with a reasonable opportunity to 
     correct defects, if any, in such applications before making 
     final awards.
       ``(j) Apportionment.--For fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal 
     year thereafter, the Secretary shall apportion amounts 
     appropriated to carry out this section among States as 
     follows:
       ``(1) Baseline amount.--The Secretary shall first apportion 
     0.25 percent of such amounts to each of American Samoa, the 
     Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the 
     Virgin Islands, and 0.75 percent of such amounts to each of 
     the remaining States.
       ``(2) Remainder.--The Secretary shall apportion the 
     remainder of such amounts in the ratio that--
       ``(A) the population of each State; bears to
       ``(B) the population of all States.
       ``(k) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of an 
     activity carried out using funds made available under the 
     program may not exceed the following percentages:
       ``(1) For fiscal year 2021, 90 percent.
       ``(2) For fiscal year 2022, 80 percent.
       ``(3) For fiscal year 2023, 70 percent.
       ``(4) For fiscal year 2024, 60 percent.
       ``(5) For fiscal year 2025 and each subsequent fiscal year, 
     50 percent.
       ``(l) State Responsibilities.--
       ``(1) Certification.--Each State that receives a grant 
     under this section shall certify to the Secretary that the 
     grant will be used for the purpose for which the grant is 
     awarded and in compliance with the Cybersecurity Plan or 
     other purpose approved by the Secretary under subsection (g).
       ``(2) Availability of funds to local, tribal, and 
     territorial governments.--Not later than 45 days after a 
     State receives a grant under this section, such State shall, 
     without imposing unreasonable or unduly burdensome 
     requirements as a condition of receipt, obligate or otherwise 
     make available to local, Tribal, and territorial governments 
     in such State, consistent with the applicable Cybersecurity 
     Plan--
       ``(A) not less than 80 percent of funds available under 
     such grant;
       ``(B) with the consent of such local, Tribal, and 
     territorial governments, items, services, capabilities, or 
     activities having a value of not less than 80 percent of the 
     amount of the grant; or
       ``(C) with the consent of the local, Tribal, and 
     territorial governments, grant funds combined with other 
     items, services, capabilities, or activities having the total 
     value of not less than 80 percent of the amount of the grant.
       ``(3) Certifications regarding distribution of grant funds 
     to local, tribal, territorial governments.--A State shall 
     certify to the Secretary that the State has made the 
     distribution to local, Tribal, and territorial governments 
     required under paragraph (2).
       ``(4) Extension of period.--A State may request in writing 
     that the Secretary extend the period of time specified in 
     paragraph (2) for an additional period of time. The Secretary 
     may approve such a request if the Secretary determines such 
     extension is necessary to ensure the obligation and 
     expenditure of grant funds align with the purpose of the 
     grant program.
       ``(5) Exception.--Paragraph (2) shall not apply to the 
     District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
     American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
     Islands, Guam, or the Virgin Islands.
       ``(6) Direct funding.--If a State does not make the 
     distribution to local, Tribal, or territorial governments in 
     such State required under paragraph (2), such a local, 
     Tribal, or territorial government may petition the Secretary.
       ``(7) Penalties.--In addition to other remedies available 
     to the Secretary, the Secretary may terminate or reduce the 
     amount of a grant awarded under this section to a State or 
     transfer grant funds previously awarded to such State 
     directly to the appropriate local, Tribal, or territorial 
     government if such State violates a requirement of this 
     subsection.
       ``(m) Advisory Committee.--
       ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish a State 
     and Local Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee to provide 
     State, local, Tribal, and territorial stakeholder expertise, 
     situational awareness, and recommendations to the Director, 
     as appropriate, regarding how to--
       ``(A) address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats 
     to information systems of State, local, Tribal, or 
     territorial governments; and
       ``(B) improve the ability of such governments to prevent, 
     protect against, respond, mitigate, and recover from 
     cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats.
       ``(2) Duties.--The State and Local Cybersecurity Resiliency 
     Committee shall--
       ``(A) submit to the Director recommendations that may 
     inform guidance for applicants for grants under this section;
       ``(B) upon the request of the Director, provide to the 
     Director technical assistance to inform the review of 
     Cybersecurity Plans submitted by applicants for grants under 
     this section, and, as appropriate, submit to the Director 
     recommendations to improve such Plans prior to the Director's 
     determination regarding whether to approve such Plans;
       ``(C) advise and provide to the Director input regarding 
     the Homeland Security Strategy to Improve Cybersecurity for 
     State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments required 
     under section 2210; and
       ``(D) upon the request of the Director, provide to the 
     Director recommendations, as appropriate, regarding how to--

[[Page H5082]]

       ``(i) address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats 
     on information systems of State, local, Tribal, or 
     territorial governments;
       ``(ii) and improve the cybersecurity resilience of such 
     governments.
       ``(3) Membership.--
       ``(A) Number and appointment.--The State and Local 
     Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee shall be composed of 15 
     members appointed by the Director, as follows:
       ``(i) Two individuals recommended to the Director by the 
     National Governors Association.
       ``(ii) Two individuals recommended to the Director by the 
     National Association of State Chief Information Officers.
       ``(iii) One individual recommended to the Director by the 
     National Guard Bureau.
       ``(iv) Two individuals recommended to the Director by the 
     National Association of Counties.
       ``(v) Two individuals recommended to the Director by the 
     National League of Cities.
       ``(vi) One individual recommended to the Director by the 
     United States Conference of Mayors.
       ``(vii) One individual recommended to the Director by the 
     Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
       ``(viii) Four individuals who have educational and 
     professional experience related to cybersecurity analysis or 
     policy.
       ``(B) Terms.--Each member of the State and Local 
     Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee shall be appointed for a 
     term of two years, except that such term shall be three years 
     only in the case of members who are appointed initially to 
     the Committee upon the establishment of the Committee. Any 
     member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the 
     expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was 
     appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such 
     term. A member may serve after the expiration of such 
     member's term until a successor has taken office. A vacancy 
     in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the 
     original appointment was made.
       ``(C) Pay.--Members of the State and Local Cybersecurity 
     Resiliency Committee shall serve without pay.
       ``(4) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--The members of the 
     State and Local Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee shall 
     select a chairperson and vice chairperson from among 
     Committee members.
       ``(5) Federal advisory committee act.--The Federal Advisory 
     Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the State 
     and Local Cybersecurity Resilience Committee.
       ``(n) Reports.--
       ``(1) Annual reports by state grant recipients.--A State 
     that receives a grant under this section shall annually 
     submit to the Secretary a report on the progress of the State 
     in implementing the Cybersecurity Plan approved pursuant to 
     subsection (g). If the State does not have a Cybersecurity 
     Plan approved pursuant to subsection (g), the State shall 
     submit to the Secretary a report describing how grant funds 
     were obligated and expended to develop a Cybersecurity Plan 
     or improve the cybersecurity of information systems owned or 
     operated by State, local, Tribal, or territorial governments 
     in such State. The Secretary, acting through the Director, 
     shall make each such report publicly available, including by 
     making each such report available on the internet website of 
     the Agency, subject to any redactions the Director determines 
     necessary to protect classified or other sensitive 
     information.
       ``(2) Annual reports to congress.--At least once each year, 
     the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall submit to 
     Congress a report on the use of grants awarded under this 
     section and any progress made toward the following:
       ``(A) Achieving the objectives set forth in the Homeland 
     Security Strategy to Improve the Cybersecurity of State, 
     Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments, upon the 
     strategy's issuance under section 2210.
       ``(B) Developing, implementing, or revising Cybersecurity 
     Plans.
       ``(C) Reducing cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity 
     threats to information systems owned or operated by State, 
     local, Tribal, and territorial governments as a result of the 
     award of such grants.
       ``(o) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated for grants under this section--
       ``(1) for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, 
     $400,000,000; and
       ``(2) for each subsequent fiscal year, such sums as may be 
     necessary.
       ``(p) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Critical infrastructure.--The term `critical 
     infrastructure' has the meaning given that term in section 2.
       ``(2) Cyber threat indicator.--The term `cyber threat 
     indicator' has the meaning given such term in section 102 of 
     the Cybersecurity Act of 2015.
       ``(3) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
     the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
       ``(4) Incident.--The term `incident' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 2209.
       ``(5) Information sharing and analysis organization.--The 
     term `information sharing and analysis organization' has the 
     meaning given such term in section 2222.
       ``(6) Information system.--The term `information system' 
     has the meaning given such term in section 102(9) of the 
     Cybersecurity Act of 2015 (6 U.S.C. 1501(9)).
       ``(7) Key resources.--The term `key resources' has the 
     meaning given that term in section 2.
       ``(8) Online service.--The term `online service' means any 
     internet-facing service, including a website, email, virtual 
     private network, or custom application.
       ``(9) State.--The term `State'--
       ``(A) means each of the several States, the District of 
     Colombia, and the territories and possessions of the United 
     States; and
       ``(B) includes any federally recognized Indian tribe that 
     notifies the Secretary, not later than 120 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this section or not later than 120 
     days before the start of any fiscal year in which a grant 
     under this section is awarded, that the tribe intends to 
     develop a Cybersecurity Plan and agrees to forfeit any 
     distribution under subsection (l)(2).

     ``SEC. 2216. CYBERSECURITY RESOURCE GUIDE DEVELOPMENT FOR 
                   STATE, LOCAL, TRIBAL, AND TERRITORIAL 
                   GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

       ``The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall develop 
     a resource guide for use by State, local, Tribal, and 
     territorial government officials, including law enforcement 
     officers, to help such officials identify, prepare for, 
     detect, protect against, respond to, and recover from 
     cybersecurity risks, cybersecurity threats, and incidents (as 
     such term is defined in section 2209).''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
     1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by 
     inserting after the item relating to section 2214 the 
     following new items:

``Sec. 2215. State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.
``Sec. 2216. Cybersecurity resource guide development for State, local, 
              Tribal, and territorial government officials.''.

     SEC. 3. STRATEGY.

       (a) Homeland Security Strategy To Improve the Cybersecurity 
     of State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Governments.--
     Section 2210 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     660) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(e) Homeland Security Strategy To Improve the 
     Cybersecurity of State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial 
     Governments.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary, acting 
     through the Director, shall, in coordination with appropriate 
     Federal departments and agencies, State, local, Tribal, and 
     territorial governments, the State and Local Cybersecurity 
     Resilience Committee (established under section 2215), and 
     other stakeholders, as appropriate, develop and make publicly 
     available a Homeland Security Strategy to Improve the 
     Cybersecurity of State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial 
     Governments that provides recommendations regarding how the 
     Federal Government should support and promote the ability 
     State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments to 
     identify, protect against, detect respond to, and recover 
     from cybersecurity risks, cybersecurity threats, and 
     incidents (as such term is defined in section 2209) and 
     establishes baseline requirements and principles to which 
     Cybersecurity Plans under such section shall be aligned.
       ``(2) Contents.--The Homeland Security Strategy to Improve 
     the Cybersecurity of State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial 
     Governments required under paragraph (1) shall--
       ``(A) identify capability gaps in the ability of State, 
     local, Tribal, and territorial governments to identify, 
     protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from 
     cybersecurity risks, cybersecurity threats, and incidents;
       ``(B) identify Federal resources and capabilities that are 
     available or could be made available to State, local, Tribal, 
     and territorial governments to help such governments 
     identify, protect against, detect, respond to, and recover 
     from cybersecurity risks, cybersecurity threats, and 
     incidents;
       ``(C) identify and assess the limitations of Federal 
     resources and capabilities available to State, local, Tribal, 
     and territorial governments to help such governments 
     identify, protect against, detect, respond to, and recover 
     from cybersecurity risks, cybersecurity threats, and 
     incidents, and make recommendations to address such 
     limitations;
       ``(D) identify opportunities to improve the Agency's 
     coordination with Federal and non-Federal entities, such as 
     the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, to 
     improve incident exercises, information sharing and incident 
     notification procedures, the ability for State, local, 
     Tribal, and territorial governments to voluntarily adapt and 
     implement guidance in Federal binding operational directives, 
     and opportunities to leverage Federal schedules for 
     cybersecurity investments under section 502 of title 40, 
     United States Code;
       ``(E) recommend new initiatives the Federal Government 
     should undertake to improve the ability of State, local, 
     Tribal, and territorial governments to help such governments 
     identify, protect against, detect, respond to, and recover 
     from cybersecurity risks, cybersecurity threats, and 
     incidents;
       ``(F) set short-term and long-term goals that will improve 
     the ability of State, local, Tribal, and territorial 
     governments to help such governments identify, protect 
     against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity 
     risks, cybersecurity threats, and incidents; and
       ``(G) set dates, including interim benchmarks, as 
     appropriate for State, local, Tribal, territorial governments 
     to establish baseline capabilities to identify, protect 
     against,

[[Page H5083]]

     detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity risks, 
     cybersecurity threats, and incidents.
       ``(3) Considerations.--In developing the Homeland Security 
     Strategy to Improve the Cybersecurity of State, Local, 
     Tribal, and Territorial Governments required under paragraph 
     (1), the Director, in coordination with appropriate Federal 
     departments and agencies, State, local, Tribal, and 
     territorial governments, the State and Local Cybersecurity 
     Resilience Committee, and other stakeholders, as appropriate, 
     shall consider--
       ``(A) lessons learned from incidents that have affected 
     State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, and 
     exercises with Federal and non-Federal entities;
       ``(B) the impact of incidents that have affected State, 
     local, Tribal, and territorial governments, including the 
     resulting costs to such governments;
       ``(C) the information related to the interest and ability 
     of state and non-state threat actors to compromise 
     information systems owned or operated by State, local, 
     Tribal, and territorial governments;
       ``(D) emerging cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity 
     threats to State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments 
     resulting from the deployment of new technologies; and
       ``(E) recommendations made by the State and Local 
     Cybersecurity Resilience Committee.''.
       (b) Responsibilities of the Director of the Cybersecurity 
     and Infrastructure Security Agency.--Subsection (c) of 
     section 2202 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     652) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) through (11) as 
     paragraphs (11) through (16), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following new 
     paragraphs:
       ``(6) develop program guidance, in consultation with the 
     State and Local Government Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee 
     established under section 2215, for the State and Local 
     Cybersecurity Grant Program under such section or any other 
     homeland security assistance administered by the Department 
     to improve cybersecurity;
       ``(7) review, in consultation with the State and Local 
     Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee, all cybersecurity plans 
     of State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments 
     developed pursuant to any homeland security assistance 
     administered by the Department to improve cybersecurity;
       ``(8) provide expertise and technical assistance to State, 
     local, Tribal, and territorial government officials with 
     respect to cybersecurity;
       ``(9) provide education, training, and capacity development 
     to enhance the security and resilience of cybersecurity and 
     infrastructure security;
       ``(10) provide information to State, local, Tribal, and 
     territorial governments on the security benefits of .gov 
     domain name registration services;''.
       (c) Feasibility Study.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
     Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the 
     Department of Homeland Security shall conduct a study to 
     assess the feasibility of implementing a short-term 
     rotational program for the detail of approved State, local, 
     Tribal, and territorial government employees in cyber 
     workforce positions to the Agency.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Underwood) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Joyce) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I don't need to tell anyone here that cyberattacks 
against State and local governments are growing more frequent and more 
sophisticated. In 2019, there were over 100 ransomware attacks on State 
and local governments.
  From major cities like New Orleans and Baltimore to small towns 
across Texas, cyberattacks sought to cripple the ability of governments 
across the country to carry out basic functions, from processing real 
estate transactions to collecting payments for services.
  The cost is more than just a mere inconvenience. A ransomware attack 
against a State and local government can disrupt lifeline services, 
like 911 call centers and public hospitals, and extort money those 
governments do not have.
  Last summer, the mayor of Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms, testified 
before my subcommittee that the ransomware attack that hit her city in 
2018 cost city taxpayers $7.2 million to recover from, but experts 
expect that cost to grow to as much as $17 million.
  The COVID-19 pandemic, by dramatically expanding the threat landscape 
and making government networks more attractive targets for hackers, has 
made the situation more dire. More Americans than ever before are 
working from home. That includes State and local government workers who 
may be less accustomed to teleworking and less prepared to do it 
securely.
  At the same time, the cyber risk to State and local networks has 
increased dramatically due to unprecedented demand for online services, 
including unemployment compensation and human services applications.
  The transition to online learning that COVID-19 has forced many 
schools to undertake has also not been without incident. According to 
Education Week, there have been 220 cyberattacks against schools so far 
this year. And while the pandemic is bringing the vulnerability of our 
school districts' networks into focus, it is worth noting that there 
have been over 1,000 cyberattacks against school districts since 2016, 
according to the K-12 Research Center.
  Despite the urgent need to address their cyber vulnerabilities, many 
State and local governments are not in a position to do so without 
outside assistance, as they are overwhelmed by the challenges of 
maintaining basic services in the face of steep COVID-19-related 
revenue losses.
  It is time for the Federal Government to step up and help. Passing 
H.R. 5823, the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act, which I 
am proud to cosponsor, is an important first step.
  The bill would establish a $400 million targeted grant program to 
help States and local governments develop robust cybersecurity 
capabilities. Importantly, it requires States to pay a graduated match 
to incentivize them to budget better for cybersecurity.
  And it requires the Department of Homeland Security to create a plan 
to improve the cybersecurity posture of State and local governments to 
ensure that Federal resources align with State goals and objectives. 
The smart investments we make in the cybersecurity of our State and 
local governments now will pay for themselves in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5823, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5823.
  Preparing our State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments for 
the increasing number of cyber threats they face is a necessary 
priority.
  Cybersecurity preparedness is ineffective if our only focus is on 
Federal preparedness. It is incumbent on us to ensure that our State 
and local partners are taking advantage of the resources that we can 
offer so they, too, can prepare for the threats that they might face. 
H.R. 5823 will do just that. It establishes a matching grant program 
for State and local governments to access and close vulnerabilities in 
their IT systems.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Richmond and Katko for their 
bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger).
  Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Before I start, I want to acknowledge the gentlewoman's leadership 
position. I was sitting in my chair--I have been dealing with cyber 
issues for a long time--and when I heard Mr. Joyce agree with the 
gentlewoman, I almost fell out of my chair, but I didn't. I really 
applaud both Members for working together.
  Cyber issues are some of the most important national security issues 
that our country faces, internationally and also within our country, 
and coming together like this is how we get things done for our 
constituents. I hope people on both sides of the aisle observe what 
these Representatives are doing. That is the way we need to go.
  First, as a former Baltimore County executive, I am well aware of the 
problems that State and local governments face on a daily basis. They 
are where

[[Page H5084]]

the rubber meets the road and the source of many of the critical 
services our constituents rely on, which includes schools, law 
enforcement, parks, fire, and libraries.
  Yet, according to the National Association of State Chief Information 
Officers, nearly half of all States do not have a dedicated 
cybersecurity line item in their budget. In fact, most State 
cybersecurity budgets are between 0 and 3 percent of their overall 
information technology budget.
  While some support from the Federal Government does exist already, 
less than 4 percent of current Homeland Security Grant Program funding 
has been allocated to cybersecurity needs at the State and local level. 
As we have seen from recent cyberattacks on many American cities and 
States, this is simply not enough.
  Last year, there were at least 24 public-sector ransomware attacks, 
including a ransomware attack in Baltimore, my hometown, that is 
expected to cost more than $18 million in remediation. A separate 
attack in 2018 temporarily disabled Baltimore's 911 dispatch system.
  This is part of a growing nationwide trend. The COVID-19 pandemic has 
only exacerbated the threat to local governments as hackers exploit 
overwhelmed organizations that are increasingly dependent on digital 
tools. We cannot simply stand by and watch this happen. We can and must 
do more.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Maryland an 
additional 2 minutes.
  Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us today establishes 
a program making grants available to State, local, Tribal, and 
territorial governments to address cybersecurity risks and threats to 
their information systems.
  This is not a silver bullet, but it allows us to leverage Federal 
expertise in cyber, like that of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
Security Agency, or CISA, to help State and local governments get their 
information security programs off the ground.
  This bill will further empower State and local governments around the 
country to begin assuming the funding burden in their normal budget 
cycles in the future by reducing the Federal share over time.
  I thank Chairman Thompson, Chairman Richmond, and all those involved 
for this bipartisan coalition.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Kilmer).
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend for yielding and echo 
the gratitude for her leadership and the bipartisan leadership of the 
subcommittee.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the State and Local 
Cybersecurity Improvement Act, a bipartisan bill that I was proud to 
help introduce, to deliver urgently needed investments to address the 
vulnerabilities that persist in State, local, Tribal, and territorial 
cyber infrastructures.
  These cyber threats are real, and our communities need help.
  I have spoken with a county auditor just recently who said she is 
conscious that her systems are constantly targeted.
  I have spoken with public power providers who understand that, in the 
absence of sufficient cybersecurity, we could see an attack that would 
wipe out our critical utilities for citizens and could undermine our 
economy.
  I have recently spoken with a Tribal leader who said that they have 
enough technology challenges without seeing the threat of cyberattack 
compound things.
  I have spoken with a county hospital in my district that was hit by a 
ransomware attack.
  This bill is about letting those folks know and the people whom they 
serve know that they are not on their own, that the Federal Government 
understands that cybersecurity vulnerabilities don't only exist in 
marble buildings in Washington, D.C., but that they exist in 
communities in every State in our Nation, and with this bill the 
Federal Government says: We are going to have your back. That is why I 
urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this 
bipartisan plan. There is no time to waste.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am 
prepared to close after the gentleman from Pennsylvania closes. I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, over the past decade and a half, Congress 
has redoubled efforts to secure Federal networks. This legislation will 
continue that work by supporting State and local cybersecurity 
improvements. It was approved on a bipartisan basis in committee and 
has broad and deep support within stakeholder communities.
  I would like to congratulate Congressman Cedric Richmond, the former 
chairman of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and 
Innovation Subcommittee, on this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the measure, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5823, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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