Politico: Momentum for Cybersecurity
By Truman Project Staff | 8.1.12
Truman Legislative Director Matthew Rhoades in Politico on how the cybersecurity bill is a bipartisan opportunity to protect national security:
The Senate on Wednesday is due to finally move a cybersecurity bill through a gridlocked Congress. The newest version is not perfect — but it’s a positive step forward on a critical national security issue and is worthy of support.
A bipartisan group of senators — Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)) — made significant compromises after years of work to build enough bipartisan support and pass the bill. Unlike the House cybersecurity bill, President Barack Obama has signaled his support for the Senate version. In a city bogged down with the hyper-partisanship inherent in a presidential campaign, cybersecurity is providing a rare chance for bipartisan progress.
To create momentum and draw more support, the Senate rolled back some of its original language on critical infrastructure. This is a catch-all term for the systems vital to the nation’s security, economy and public health and safety. In layman’s terms, this includes our electric grid, power plants, banks and hospitals. . .