Authority for National Cyber Director to Accept Details on Nonreimbursable Basis

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2382) to authorize the National Cyber Director to accept details from other elements of the Federal Government on nonreimbursable basis, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: S. 2382

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. AUTHORITY FOR NATIONAL CYBER DIRECTOR TO ACCEPT DETAILS ON NONREIMBURSABLE BASIS.

Section 1752(e) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) is amended--

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (8) as subparagraphs (A) through (H), respectively, and indenting such subparagraphs two ems to the right;

(2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated by paragraph (1), by striking ``The Director may'' and inserting the following:

``(1) In general.--The Director may'';

(3) in paragraph (1)--

(A) as redesignated by paragraph (2), by redesignating subparagraphs (C) through (H) as subparagraphs (D) through (I), respectively; and

(B) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph (C):

``(C) accept officers or employees of the United States or member of the Armed Forces on a detail from an element of the intelligence community or from another element of the Federal Government on a nonreimbursable basis, as jointly agreed to by the heads of the receiving and detailing elements, for a period not to exceed three years;''; and

(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

``(2) Rules of construction regarding details.--Paragraph (1)(C) shall not be construed to impose any limitation on any other authority for reimbursable or nonreimbursable details. A nonreimbursable detail made under such paragraph shall not be considered an augmentation of the appropriations of the receiving element of the Office of the National Cyber Director.''.

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Ms. NORTON. 2382.

I rise in support of S. 2382, which would allow the National Cyber Director to accept details from other elements of the Federal Government as on a nonreimbursable basis.

Last year the Committee on Oversight and Reform helped advance legislation to establish the Office of the National Cyber Director in the Executive Office of the President. The bipartisan effort fulfilled a key recommendation of the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission, which was established by the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act to review the condition of our Nation's cybersecurity posture and to develop solutions to defend against cyber threats.

The National Cyber Director Act was signed into law through last year's National Defense Authorization Act, creating a centralized cybersecurity position in the White House to assist in the development and streamlining of the Federal Government's strategy, coordination, and response to cyber threats.

We were thrilled to see President Biden nominate and the Senate confirm Chris Inglis, a widely-respected member of the Solarium Commission, as the Nation's first National Cyber Director. Now, Mr. Inglis needs a team to get to work immediately to address cybersecurity, which remains one of the most urgent threats on the Government Accountability Office's high-risk list.

Indeed, the State and non-state actors from Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and all corners of the globe are waging a silent war capable of shutting down our critical infrastructure, breaching our sensitive information system, and jeopardizing critical sectors in America and globally.

Until Congress acts to provide the Office of the National Cyber Director its first appropriation, the Office requires the ability to bring in details on a nonreimbursable basis. This bill would grant that authority.

Cyberattacks are critical, widespread, complex, and escalating as a threat to our national and economic security. A challenge as grave and pervasive as cybersecurity requires that our government be strategic, organized, and ready. It is imperative that we pass this bill immediately to allow the Office of the National Cyber Director to get up running as it awaits its full appropriation.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.

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