[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S7565]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Cyber Security

  Madam President, let me close on a topic that is related to this. The 
press reports of Russian hacking into the security systems of the 
United States are as troubling as can be. This is nothing short of a 
virtual invasion by the Russians into critical accounts of our Federal 
Government.
  It is possible that they have compromised some of the most important 
and sensitive information that this government owns, information that 
we rely on to keep America safe. Of course, Vladimir Putin denies it, 
but we know better. It is not the first time, but I hope it is one of 
the last times.
  We need to make it clear to Mr. Putin, to China, to Iran, to North 
Korea, and to any nation that would compromise and breach our security 
that there is a price to pay. No, I am not calling for an invasion 
myself or all-out war. I don't want to see that happen, but it is no 
longer a buddy-buddy arrangement between the United States and Vladimir 
Putin. We have to take this man very seriously because he is a serious 
threat to the United States when he captures this kind of information, 
which we use so that our troops are safe in the field and we are safe 
in our homes.
  We thought we had a defense mechanism established. It turns out that 
it failed and compromised the integrity of our security in the cyber 
world. We need to do better and, through the Department of Homeland 
Security and the Department of Defense, dedicate the resources and say 
to Mr. Putin and others like him around the world: We are not going to 
stand by and let you take advantage of us. There will be a price to pay 
for this.
  Frankly, if we do anything less than that, it is hard to imagine we 
are doing our best to protect this great Nation. There will be more. I 
am sure there will be security briefings for Members of Congress going 
into detail here, but the news that is coming out in the media is very 
troubling.
  We need to do all that we can to keep America safe. And when 
adversaries such as Russia torment us, tempt us, breach the security of 
our Nation, we need to respond in kind.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.