SC, Ala. sites look back Betty Ford honored 20 years till the next one Dream Chaser details
NEWS
Health insurance

Cybersecurity information-sharing bill to get Senate vote in October

Erin Kelly
USA TODAY
Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., is chairman of the Senate intelligence committee and a lead sponsor of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act.

WASHINGTON — The Senate is expected to take up a bipartisan cybersecurity bill later this month aimed at thwarting more massive hack attacks against the federal government and American companies, the bill's lead sponsors announced Tuesday.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Vice Chairman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., told members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act is set to come to the Senate floor for debate beginning the week of Oct. 19. That's when senators return from a week-long recess for the Columbus Day holiday.

The bill has been stalled in the Senate for months, and supporters say it must be passed soon so that it can be reconciled with House-approved legislation and crafted into a final bill that lawmakers can pass by the end of this year. Proponents of the legislation want a vote this year because they fear that few substantive bills will be approved during the 2016 election year.

"We have both pestered our leadership to death to bring this to the floor," Burr said at the chamber's fourth annual cybersecurity summit. "There's no more compelling reason for us to do that than the last attack, the one before, and the one to come."

Cybersecurity legislation may face tough road

A massive cyber attack against the federal Office of Personnel Management — revealed earlier this year — resulted in the theft of the personal information of about 21.5 million government workers, their family members and applicants for federal jobs. Hackers also have hit the Internal Revenue Service, the White House, the State Department and major U.S. companies such as Home Depot, Anthem health insurance and cellphone service provider T-Mobile.

The bill, which is supported by the chamber and the White House, would encourage the voluntary sharing of cyber threat information among private companies and between companies and the government. It gives companies protection from anti-trust laws if they share threats with one another. It also shields them from lawsuits by stockholders and customers for sharing data with the government.

Burr said the goal is to limit data breaches by alerting companies and federal officials when a cyber attack has occurred so that steps can be taken to protect other businesses and government agencies.

"This is a bill designed to minimize data loss," the senator said. He said no bill can prevent all attacks.

Senate hits stalemate over cybersecurity bill

Privacy rights advocates say the bill would result in the personal information of millions of Americans being turned over to the federal government without their consent.

“The bill gives private companies sweeping legal protections when they share personal consumer information with the government,” said Gabe Rottman, a policy adviser for the American Civil Liberties Union. “Once shared with the government, law enforcement and intelligence agencies can use it for numerous non-cyber purposes.”

Burr and Feinstein said they have worked to strengthen privacy protections in the bill. One major change is that federal law enforcement officials would no longer be able to use the data to investigate crimes that have nothing to do with cybersecurity. An earlier version would have allowed agents to use the information to investigate crimes such as carjacking and drug running that involves weapons.

"Some people you just can't satisfy, no matter what you do," Feinstein said.

Feinstein and Burr said they are open to amendments that will make the bill stronger. Senate Republican and Democratic leaders have agreed to allow 21 amendments to come to the floor for debate and votes.

"If it (an amendment) is a good idea, it's gonna be accepted," Feinstein said.

Featured Weekly Ad