Raising Awareness And Enhancing The State Of Cyber Security In The United States

Floor Speech

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Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer H. Res. 797, my resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, for a vote today. I would like to thank Chairman BART GORDON for giving me the opportunity to share with him and this committee the virtues of National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

The goal of National Cyber Security Awareness Month is to heighten awareness of everyday Internet users and to explain that by taking some simple steps, we can all safeguard ourselves from the latest online threats and respond to potential cybercrimes against ourselves and our Nation.

Each year, the National Cybersecurity Division (NCSD) of the Department of Homeland Security joins with the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, and other partners to support National Cyber Security Awareness Month. I thank DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano and Assistant Secretary Greg Schaffer as well as Will Pelgrin with MS-ISAC and Michael Kaiser with StaySafeOnline.org for their leadership in promoting National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

This year, the theme of National Cyber Security Awareness Month is ``Our Shared Responsibility.'' Ultimately, our cyberinfrastructure is only as strong as its weakest link. In this digital age, we are all connected. No individual, business, or government entity is solely responsible for cybersecurity. We all must understand how our individual online computing practices have a collective impact on our Nation's cybersecurity. It would be naive to believe, however, that simple steps by end users alone will sufficiently combat the larger threats associated with a growing networked society.

As chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology, I have held three hearings this year on our Nation's cybersecurity posture. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities can and have significantly impacted our national and economic security. Through the leadership of the Obama administration, cybersecurity is finally gaining the much-needed attention it deserves, both in the Federal Government and the private sector. The oversight that the Homeland Security Committee is undertaking will help to focus our attention; however, much more work remains to be done.

Last week, I held a roundtable discussion with key cybersecurity stakeholders in Congress, the administration, and the private sector on this extremely complex issue. Everyone agreed that end user awareness and education is an extremely critical component to fortifying our national cybersecurity posture. More and more and with each passing moment, we are awakening to the vulnerabilities and threats that come from our interactions on the World Wide Web. Simply put, we must protect ourselves. That is why this resolution received overwhelming bipartisan support.

I thank my colleagues, especially Chairman Gordon, for cosponsoring H. Res. 797, and I look forward to working with him as well as other committees of cross jurisdiction on this critical issue going forward.

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