Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. HECK of Washington. I thank the ranking member for yielding.

Mr. Chair, I do, indeed, rise to engage the chairman of the Defense Subcommittee in a colloquy.

Mr. Chair, I express my profound gratitude to the committee for the inclusion of report language on the bill, an inclusion which notes the contributions made to our Nation's defense against digital threats by National Guard Cyber Protection Teams. The report language also expressed support for partnerships with Federal agencies, universities, and the private sector to achieve more effective training for missions like protecting the industrial control systems of critical infrastructure.

Mr. Chair, the report language refers specifically to Army National Guard Cyber Protection Teams, but as the chairman is likely aware, the Air National Guard is also leading efforts in this area. For example, the 194th Wing of the Air National Guard, which is based in the 10th Congressional District of Washington State, at Camp Murray, has several Cyber Protection Teams with demonstrated expertise in industrial control system assessment, cybersecurity remediation, and cyber mission planning.

I ask the chairman whether the language in the report that expresses support for collaborative training efforts for Army National Guard Cyber Protection Teams would also apply to the Air National Guard.

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Mr. HECK of Washington. I thank the chairman for agreeing to work with me on this critically important issue as well as for his and the ranking member's leadership on this legislation.

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