[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 178 (Thursday, November 17, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1165-E1166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               STRENGTHENING VA CYBERSECURITY ACT OF 2022

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 14, 2022

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7299, the 
Strengthening VA Cybersecurity Act of 2022, to require the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to obtain an independent cybersecurity assessment of 
information systems of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  According to the Department of Defense, cyber criminals target 
victims in order to weaken U.S. supply chains, threaten national 
security, and endanger the American way of life.
  Although cyberattacks can potentially harm all Americans, attacks 
against veterans are especially problematic because of the vast 
population of veterans and the amount of data that is maintained about 
their service and benefits.
  In the United States, there are an estimated 18.5 million veterans.
  Currently, there are 1.2 million active-duty military members and 
778,000 reserve forces. More than half of active-duty personnel have 
family member dependents.
  Because there are so many veterans--and future veterans--the data 
systems that manage their service records, salaries, health conditions, 
and benefits provided to them and their families must be maintained 
securely and insulated from risk of being exposed, corrupted, deleted, 
or held for ransom.
  Just as veterans have served America, protecting our safety and 
freedoms, it is vital that we protect veterans when they complete their 
service, start a new chapter of their life, and depend on our 
government to protect their personal information and privacy.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs stores important material such as 
social security numbers, health records, financial information, and 
more. It is the Department's responsibility to protect and preserve 
veterans' data for future use and needs that the veterans may have.
  In 1973, a firestorm at the National Personnel Records Center in St. 
Louis, Missouri

[[Page E1166]]

destroyed the records of veterans that served from 1912 to 1964. Almost 
18 million records went up in flames. Up to 80 percent of veterans who 
discharged during this time had their records destroyed.
  We learned from that conflagration, and since 1973, we have become 
increasingly reliant on technology, although that, too, creates 
exposure to potential vulnerabilities.
  If cybersecurity is not protected appropriately, then millions of 
records could be at risk just like they were in 1973.
  Strengthening information systems at Veterans Affairs will protect 
against cybersecurity threats, ransomware, insider threats, threats 
from foreign actors, phishing, and any other attacks that seek to cause 
harm.
  Congress must require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to obtain an 
independent cybersecurity assessment of information systems at the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that this fragile information 
is protected.
  This bill should be extremely important to all of us because it is 
personal. Many of our colleagues in Congress are veterans. Many of our 
neighbors are veterans or have family and friends who are veterans. 
They are our constituents, our community leaders, and often, our heroes 
and sheroes.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical bill that 
will safeguard the information of millions of veterans and their 
families.

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