Jun 16 2009
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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