[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 171 (Thursday, October 1, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             STATE AND LOCAL CYBERSECURITY IMPROVEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 30, 2020

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5823, the 
State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act, which authorizes a new 
DHS grant program to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities on State and 
local government networks.
  The new grant program would be authorized at $400 million with a 
graduating cost-share that incentivizes States to increase funding for 
cybersecurity in their budgets.
  Under the bill, State, tribal, and territorial governments would be 
required to develop comprehensive cybersecurity plans to guide the use 
of grant funds.
  This bill tasks the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency 
(CISA), the Nation's cyber risk advisor, that works with partners to 
defend against today's threats and collaborating to build more secure 
and resilient infrastructure for the future to provide support to state 
and local governments.
  The bill also requires CISA to develop a strategy to improve the 
cybersecurity of State, local, tribal, and territorial governments, 
among other things, identify Federal resources that could be made 
available to State and local governments for cybersecurity purposes, 
and set baseline objectives for State and local cybersecurity efforts.
  CISA would also be required 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 at CISA.
  Lastly, the bill establishes a State and Local Cybersecurity 
Resiliency Committee comprised of representatives from State, local, 
tribal, and territorial governments to advise and provide situational 
awareness to CISA regarding the cybersecurity needs of such 
governments.
  As a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security since its 
establishment, and current Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee 
on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. This bill is of importance 
to me.
  The threats we face--digital and physical, man-made, technological, 
and natural--are more complex, and the threat actors more diverse, than 
at any point in our history. CISA is at the heart of mobilizing a 
collective defense as we lead the Nation's efforts to understand and 
manage risk to our critical infrastructure.
  I am a cosponsor of H.R. 5823, and ask my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this important step to improving cybersecurity of state and 
local governments.

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