Earlier this week, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 3359, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017. The legislation would rename the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. This office, which is currently tasked with protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats, would be elevated into a full operational agency within the department. In addition, the bill would consolidate certain missions of NPPD under two divisions: the Cybersecurity Division and the Infrastructure Security Division.
This reorganization has long been a priority for the House Homeland Security Committee and has had support from both political parties in Congress along with the support of leadership from DHS (under both the Obama and Trump Administrations). When DHS was originally formed in 2002, we were living in a different world in many respects, but especially as it relates to the role of cybersecurity. This update is critical as it reflects the way that the threat landscape has evolved and the role that DHS has to play in keeping our critical infrastructure and networks secure.
We applaud the house for passing this legislation with bipartisan support and call on the Senate to do the same. This update is necessary so that DHS can be better structured and prepared while responding to the never-ending barrage of cyber threats we are facing.
Click here to see Chairman McCaul’s statement on the legislation.
Click here to see DHS Secretary Nielsen’s station on the legislation.
Randi Parker, is the Director of Public Advocacy at CompTIA
