Reps. Ratcliffe and Khanna’s cybersecurity bill unanimously approved by House Homeland Security Committee

(WASHINGTON- Oct. 23, 2019) Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) and Ro Khanna’s (D-Calif.) bill to advance and modernize the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Continuous Diagnostics Mitigation (CDM) program was approved unanimously today by the House Homeland Security Committee.

The Advancing Cybersecurity Diagnostics and Mitigation Act (H.R. 4237) is identical to the Senate bill introduced by Sens. Cornyn (R-Texas) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) in July. The bill seeks to codify the CDM program at DHS and expand CDM capabilities to additional agencies at the federal, state and local level.

“CDM has proven to be an indispensable tool for DHS to leverage in identifying, responding to and preventing cyber-attacks against our federal networks,” Ratcliffe said.

“I’m grateful my bipartisan legislation to make CDM permanent and expand its capabilities to additional agencies at the federal, state and local level was approved by the House Homeland Security Committee today. With the escalating cybersecurity threats we face as a country, I’m hopeful this bill will be brought up for a vote before he full House of Representatives as soon as possible.”

“The cybersecurity threats to our federal government grow more intense and complex every day,” said Rep. Ro Khanna.

“We have the technology to safe-guard our democracy. It’s long past time we put it to use. Proud to see our bill advance out of the House Homeland Security Committee, and look forward to voting for it on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.”

The Advancing Cybersecurity Diagnostics and Mitigation Act:

• Codifies the work of the CDM program to date;
• Requires the Secretary to make CDM capabilities available and develop policies for reporting cyber risks and incidents based upon data collected under CDM;
• Directs the Secretary to deploy new CDM technologies to continuously evolve the program;
• Requires the Secretary to make the CDM program capabilities available for use to civilian departments and agencies, and State, local, and tribal governments; and
• Mandates that DHS develop a strategy to ensure the program continues to adjust to the cyber threat landscape.

Submitted press release, Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) for publication in Blue Ribbon News. 

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  cyber security, ratclifee, washington