Dear Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer:
Our organizations, which represent nearly every sector of the U.S. economy, urge the Senate to pass H.R. 3359, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017. This legislation would deepen America’s increasingly maturing public-private efforts to safeguard cyberspace.
H.R. 3359 would modernize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD)—which provides key leadership to strengthen the security and resilience of our country’s cyber and physical infrastructure—in two important ways. First, it would restructure the directorate to optimize the ways in which the NPPD carries out its authorities, including engaging with businesses before, during, and after cyber incidents. Second, the bill would rename NPPD the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to more clearly communicate the agency’s cybersecurity mission.
The House passed H.R. 3359 in December 2017. Advancing this legislation in the Senate would be a win for policymakers, industry, and our communities. The bill would foster stronger public-private partnerships to better address cyber risks that could jeopardize America’s national security and economic prosperity. Cyberattacks—especially ones coming from criminal groups or nation states—cannot be handled solely by industry or by the U.S. government. Cybersecurity requires a concerted team effort, which H.R. 3359 would facilitate.
Our groups look forward to continuing to work with you and your Senate colleagues to swiftly pass H.R. 3359. As the Senate considers the bill, our organizations support the addition of provisions to ensure that CISA’s processes to engage the private sector are robust and transparent.
Sincerely,
ACT | The App Association
American Bankers Association (ABA)
American Gas Association (AGA)
Automation Federation
BSA | The Software Alliance
Business Roundtable
CTIA
Cybersecurity Coalition
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
Edison Electric Institute (EEI)
Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) Internet Security Alliance (ISA)
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) NCTA–The Internet & Television Association NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association Security Industry Association (SIA)
Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA)
TechNet
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
USTelecom–The Broadband Association