Committee Improves Defense Cybersecurity Efforts (House Armed Services Committee News Release)

House Armed Services Committee

Ike Skelton, Chairman                      http://armedservices.house.gov

For Immediate Release: June 16, 2009                   Contact: Loren Dealy or Lara Battles (HASC) 202-225-2539

                               

Committee Improves Defense Cybersecurity Efforts

 

WASHINGTON, DC  – Today the House Armed Services Committee approved legislation to further support DOD's efforts to defend itself and its interests from cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.

 

"I wish to thank the Terrorism subcommittee for all of their hard work in ensuring we have set in place the mechanisms necessary to improve our ability to defend critical military information systems and networks," said Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO).  "As the Department makes plans for establishing a sub-unified Cyber Command under STRATCOM, I believe that we must provide both the proper tools, and the proper oversight, to ensure it can carry out its mission effectively and responsibly. With the work done in this year's bill, I believe this committee continues to give DOD the tools it needs to address the increasingly sophisticated threats of cyberspace."

 

"While technological innovations have improved our ability to secure our borders, they have also exposed some security concerns to our information technology systems and the networks that support them. Our committee has been committed to helping DOD reduce these vulnerabilities, and we fully support the President's plan to develop a more comprehensive approach to addressing these security concerns," continued Terrorism Subcommittee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA).  "This legislation builds on the President's efforts to conduct a thorough review of our information policies and will help to address the security concerns we uncover." 

 

 

H.R.2647 does the following:

·         Directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the heads of the military departments and defense agencies, to establish a process for addressing hardware or software vulnerabilities to defense information technology systems identified during an information assurance vulnerability assessment. 

·         Requires DOD to establish a joint program office for cyber operations capabilities to assist in the development of future capabilities including manpower development, tactics and technologies for the services, defense agencies and combatant commands.

·         Provides the authority to allow private sector civilians to receive instruction at the Defense Cyber Investigation Training Academy.

·         Authorizes $5 million above the President's budget request to support K-12 and undergraduate Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) educational outreach programs in mathematics and computer science. This supports long-term development of a highly educated and skilled future workforce for cyber operations.

 

*** All provisions are subject to change pending final passage of H.R.2647 ***

 

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