Ntia Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1766, the NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act, which I was pleased to introduce with the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte).

Mr. Speaker, this important bipartisan legislation would cement the responsibilities of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, by codifying, renaming, and enhancing the work of its Office of Policy Analysis and Development, which plays a critical role in shaping our Nation's telecommunications and information objectives.

NTIA is already central to advancing market-driven strategies that foster innovation, expand broadband deployment, and promote a competitive digital economy. However, this legislation ensures that NTIA is equally empowered to help safeguard that digital future, particularly as the cybersecurity threats we face grow more complex and more dangerous by the day.

Last year's Salt Typhoon cyberattack was one of the most sophisticated and malicious efforts to infiltrate our telecommunications networks. It was a sobering reminder of how vulnerable our communications infrastructure remains and how deeply those vulnerabilities can impact multiple sectors from healthcare to national security.

In today's interconnected world, a breach in one wireless network can compromise critical services in transportation, healthcare, finance, and public safety. As our reliance on digital technologies increases, so too does the scale and sophistication of these threats, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence.

While AI holds tremendous potential to improve efficiency, optimize networks, and revolutionize industries, it also introduces new cybersecurity risks.

Foreign adversaries and malicious actors are already leveraging AI to enhance phishing campaigns, automate malware, and exploit zero-day vulnerabilities faster than ever before. These tools can evade traditional defenses, manipulate systems, and do so at a scale and speed that we have never encountered or imagined before.

That is why this legislation is so timely and so necessary. By reinforcing the NTIA's authority and resources in cybersecurity policy, we position the agency to not only be a leader in innovation and broadband expansion but a central player in securing the Nation's digital infrastructure against these emerging threats.

As the principal adviser to the President on telecommunications and information policy, NTIA must be equipped to identify risks early, coordinate effectively across agencies, and shape forward-looking policies that protect American consumers, businesses, and critical services.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud my colleague for introducing this bill, and I urge my fellow Members to join me in supporting it. Strengthening NTIA's cybersecurity capabilities is not just a matter of good governance but a national security imperative.

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