Rep. Langevin: Cyber law dithering endangers US critical infrastructure

 

Connecting state and local government leaders

Congress should set aside partisan differences to pass legislation that would require cybersecurity standards to protect U.S. critical infrastructure.

Just over two months ago, the House Homeland Security subcommittee that oversees cybersecurity unanimously approved the Precise Act, legislation requiring the relatively few companies that run our nation’s critical infrastructure, such as the electric grid and water systems, to ensure their computer networks meet minimum safety standards.

Just as the airline industry must follow Federal Aviation Administration safety standards, the companies that own and operate the infrastructure on which the public most relies should be accountable for protecting their consumers when confronted with a significant risk.

The Precise Act, sponsored by subcommittee Chairman Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), was the result of a bipartisan commitment to address a major national security challenge. I was proud to be part of its development and to become an original co-sponsor.


Related coverage:

Smart grid tech outpacing security 

Security for smart electric grid delayed


Unfortunately, despite the best intentions of many members on the other side of the aisle, the House Republican leadership appears determined to approach this vital national security challenge like every other issue: in an extremely partisan way that impedes progress, in this case siding with those in critical industries who are neglecting public safety. The leaders pressured the committee to remove any critical infrastructure requirements.

Congress has traditionally set aside partisan differences to deal with vital national security issues, as demonstrated by the other committees that have worked on cybersecurity legislation in this session. In fact, members of both parties on the Homeland Security Committee have come to the same basic conclusion: The status quo of voluntary action will not result in strong cyber protections for our most valuable and vulnerable industries.

Contrary to suggestions by some who oppose safety requirements, the provisions included in the original Precise Act and in other proposals with the same intent were not hastily drawn up in response to a few news stories. Legislation drafted in this Congress followed years of careful consideration by policy-makers and subject matter experts.

Nearly five years ago, I called electric utility industry leaders before Congress to testify after a shocking demonstration at Idaho National Labs showing that hackers could remotely blow up a power generator from thousands of miles away through a cyberattack. A key witness assured us they were taking precautionary steps; it turned out this testimony had misled Congress and had to be recanted. The CSIS Commission on Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency that I co-chaired addressed this issue within our recommendations released in 2008.

Half a decade after the Idaho National Labs event, we see more evidence of weaknesses in utilities’ cybersecurity. The president’s senior counterterrorism adviser noted this month that we know of 200 attempted or successful cyber intrusions of the control systems that run these facilities in the past year and, according to a senior FBI official, utilities in at least three U.S. cities were recently compromised.

Given the lessons learned since Sept. 11, 2001, and the FBI director’s assessment that the cyber threat will soon eclipse other terror threats, why are we faltering on our national security commitments? Is it unfair to ask private companies that operate our ports and airlines to pay for preventive steps against potential terrorist plots? Should we eliminate fire and building codes that protect citizens during earthquakes, or remove food safety requirements due to costs?

While I hope Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) would not support rolling back these basic protections, they have ignored bipartisan calls for preventing attacks on our critical infrastructure, which could leave millions of Americans without power or drinkable water for an extended time, leading to great economic damage and, potentially, even loss of life.

I have great respect for Chairman Lungren and a deep appreciation for his good-faith efforts throughout this process, as he has shown a steadfast commitment to the public’s best interests. It is with great disappointment that I will withdraw my co-sponsorship of the new version of the Precise Act. It’s time to move beyond the fantasy that this problem will solve itself through good intentions. Cybersecurity legislation without critical infrastructure protection is dangerously inadequate.

The secretary of the Homeland Security Department emphasized last week that our utilities’ control systems, which are mainly in private hands, must “come up to a certain baseline level.” With increased public awareness helping to build momentum for legislative action, we have a real chance to address these threats to critical infrastructure.

I hope we will not look back at this moment years from now, regretting a missed opportunity after damage has been done.

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.