[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 83 (Monday, May 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4978-H4979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CYBERSECURITY ACT OF 2021
Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 2520) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide
for engagements with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments,
and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 2520
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 Government
Cybersecurity Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002.
Subtitle A of title XXII of the Homeland Security Act of
2002 (6 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 2201 (6 U.S.C. 651), by adding at the end
the following:
``(7) SLTT entity.--The term `SLTT entity' means a domestic
government entity that is a State government, local
government, Tribal government, territorial government, or any
subdivision thereof.''; and
(2) in section 2209 (6 U.S.C. 659)--
(A) in subsection (c)(6), by inserting ``operational and''
before ``timely'';
(B) in subsection (d)(1)(E), by inserting ``, including an
entity that collaborates with election officials,'' after
``governments''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(p) Coordination on Cybersecurity for SLTT Entities.--
``(1) Coordination.--The Center shall, upon request and to
the extent practicable, and in coordination as appropriate
with Federal and non-Federal entities, such as the Multi-
State Information Sharing and Analysis Center--
``(A) conduct exercises with SLTT entities;
``(B) provide operational and technical cybersecurity
training to SLTT entities to address cybersecurity risks or
incidents, with or without reimbursement, related to--
``(i) cyber threat indicators;
``(ii) defensive measures;
``(iii) cybersecurity risks;
``(iv) vulnerabilities; and
``(v) incident response and management;
``(C) in order to increase situational awareness and help
prevent incidents, assist SLTT entities in sharing, in real
time, with the Federal Government as well as among SLTT
entities, actionable--
``(i) cyber threat indicators;
``(ii) defensive measures;
``(iii) information about cybersecurity risks; and
``(iv) information about incidents;
``(D) provide SLTT entities notifications containing
specific incident and malware information that may affect
them or their residents;
``(E) provide to, and periodically update, SLTT entities
via an easily accessible platform and other means--
``(i) information about tools;
``(ii) information about products;
``(iii) resources;
``(iv) policies;
``(v) guidelines;
``(vi) controls; and
``(vii) other cybersecurity standards and best practices
and procedures related to information security, including, as
appropriate, information produced by other Federal agencies;
``(F) work with senior SLTT entity officials, including
chief information officers and senior election officials and
through national associations, to coordinate the effective
implementation by SLTT entities of tools, products,
resources, policies, guidelines, controls, and procedures
related to information security to secure the information
systems, including election systems, of SLTT entities;
``(G) provide operational and technical assistance to SLTT
entities to implement tools, products, resources, policies,
guidelines, controls, and procedures on information security;
``(H) assist SLTT entities in developing policies and
procedures for coordinating vulnerability disclosures
consistent with international and national standards in the
information technology industry; and
``(I) promote cybersecurity education and awareness through
engagements with Federal agencies and non-Federal entities.
``(q) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this subsection, and every 2 years thereafter,
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives a report on the services and capabilities
that the Agency directly and indirectly provides to SLTT
entities.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Malinowski) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. LaTurner)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
General Leave
Mr. MALINOWSKI. 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
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, in recent months the world has watched in horror as
Russia launched its unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Russia's actions have, once again, reminded us of the potential for
cyberattacks on critical infrastructure here in the United States.
With State and local governments operating large amounts of critical
infrastructure, including essential public services like schools,
emergency response agencies, and water utilities, it is essential that
State and local governments have strong cybersecurity practices.
In March, in response to the current threat landscape, President
Biden sent a letter to the Nation's Governors urging them to take
actions to enhance their cyber defenses. The Federal Government must
continue to expand our partnerships with States as they carry out this
important national security work.
Congress has already taken some critical steps in this effort this
Congress, thanks to the leadership of my colleagues on the Homeland
Security Committee. Last year, the House passed Congresswoman Yvette
Clarke's State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act which created a
new grant program to assist State, local, Tribal, and territorial
Governments with strengthening their cybersecurity. This legislation
was signed by President Biden in the fall as part of the bipartisan
infrastructure law and will provide $1 billion in much-needed help over
the next 4 years.
Additionally, last year, Congress passed the K-12 Cybersecurity Act
introduced by Senator Peters and Congressman Langevin. That bill
directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to study
the cyber risks posed to K-12 educational institutions and provide them
with additional resources to better defend themselves.
Right now, I am proud to be working on a bipartisan basis with
Senators Peters and Cornyn, and my Homeland Security Committee
colleague Representative Garbarino, on the Satellite Cybersecurity Act,
urgently needed legislation to better protect critical infrastructure
used at the municipal, State, and Federal level that relies on
commercial satellite data to work properly.
Passing S. 2520 will build on these efforts by further strengthening
the relationship between DHS and State and local Governments as they
work to defend our country against cyberattacks. More specifically, it
would permit DHS to provide State and local Governments with access to
cybersecurity resources and encourage collaboration in using these
resources, including joint cybersecurity exercises.
{time} 1430
Additionally, the bill will strengthen the relationship between DHS
and the Multi State Information Sharing and Analysis Center to help
State and local governments receive the most updated information
regarding potential threats and gain access to greater technical
assistance.
I thank Senators Peters and Portman for their leadership in
introducing this bill, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
[[Page H4979]]
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2520, the State and Local
Government Cybersecurity Act of 2021.
Today, State and local governments are not in the position to defend
their networks against cyberattacks from sophisticated foreign
adversaries or cybercriminals. State and local governments are rich
targets for cyber adversaries, and the frequency of attacks is only
accelerating as budgets are increasingly constrained.
The Federal Government needs to redouble their efforts to support
State, local, Tribal, and territorial government entities to bolster
their cybersecurity posture.
To help remedy this, this bill amends the Homeland Security Act of
2002 to provide for engagements with SLTT entities to increase Federal
support and information sharing.
Additionally, the bill expands DHS' responsibilities concerning
grants and cooperative agreements. The bill also provides DHS the
ability to coordinate with SLTT entities to conduct exercises, provide
technical and operational cybersecurity training, as well as promote
cybersecurity education and awareness.
S. 2520 will help shore up SLTT vulnerabilities against malicious
cyberattackers and will go a long way to strengthen our more localized
entities that are closer to the everyday American.
I urge Members to join me in supporting S. 2520, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, we rely on State and local governments for some of our
most basic and necessary public services. We have seen many communities
across the country experience disruptions in those vital services due
to ransomware attacks originating from Russia.
In this current threat environment, with a heightened risk of even
more dangerous cyberattacks, S. 2520 would enhance DHS's collaboration
with State and local governments in addressing this pressing national
security threat.
By passing this bill and sending it to the President, we will
continue our ongoing efforts to expand critical Federal cybersecurity
assistance to State and local governments.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2520, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Malinowski) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, S. 2520.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas
and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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