NEW: Bipartisan Bill to Protect Georgia's Small Businesses from Cyber Threats Passes Key Senate Committee

Statement

Bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff to help protect Georgia small businesses from cyber threats passed the key U.S. Senate Homeland Security committee today.

The bipartisan Improving Cybersecurity of Small Organizations Act will help small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and local governments defend themselves from cyber threats.

"It's been a pleasure working with Senator Rosen and Senator Cornyn on this bipartisan legislation. Cybercrime costs businesses and people across the United States billions of dollars every year. This is a big step forward to help small businesses in Georgia and across the country to defend themselves against malware and ransomware, hacking and cyberattacks, and I'm pleased that we were able to move this through the committee today," Sen. Ossoff after the bill's passage.

According to the Georgia Department of Economic DevelopmentThis is an external link
, 43% of cyberattacks are aimed at small businesses but less than 14% are prepared to defend themselves.

Click here to watch Sen. Ossoff's remarks:This is an external link

Sen. Ossoff in a U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Markup
Please find a transcript of Sen. Ossoff's remarks below:

SEN. OSSOFF: "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just want to mark the committee's passage of the Improving Cybersecurity for Small Organizations Act and thank the Chairman for his support. It's been a pleasure working with Senator Rosen and Senator Cornyn on this bipartisan legislation. Cybercrime costs businesses and people across the United States billions of dollars every year. This is a big step forward to help small businesses in Georgia and across the country to defend themselves against malware and ransomware, hacking and cyber-attacks. And I'm pleased that we were able to move this through the committee today."

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