Ratcliffe Adds Additional Privacy Protection to Cybersecurity Legislation

Statement

Yesterday, the Committee on Homeland Security unanimously passed bipartisan legislation to improve our nation's cybersecurity defenses by encouraging voluntary sharing of cyber threat indicators critical to preventing future attacks.

H.R. 1731, the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement (NCPA) Act of 2015, introduced by Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, chairman of the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies Subcommittee, passed by voice vote without opposition.

Subcommittee Chairman Ratcliffe said: "I'm grateful that this legislation was unanimously passed by the Homeland Security Committee. Securing Americans' privacy and the integrity of their personal information is precisely why Congress must act. The National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement (NCPA) Act will enhance the capabilities and relationships that the private sector has worked so hard to develop, while establishing procedures to safeguard personal privacy. If the private sector does not have access to timely cyber threat indicators -- the tools, tactics, and techniques of other attempted intrusions -- we are putting our homeland in grave danger. The time is now for commonsense legislation like this that protects personal information from cyber intrusions, prevents widespread disruption to vital sectors of our economy, and safeguards our homeland from ongoing cyber threats," said Ratcliffe.

"I'm also grateful that my amendment to this legislation was added that alleviates the privacy concerns of many by including an expressed and explicit prohibition preventing any information shared with the Department of Homeland Security's civilian cyber portal from being used by the federal government for surveillance purposes. My amendment provides a clear and robust privacy protection without in any way discouraging or prohibiting the true purpose of this bill," Ratcliffe added.

Chairman McCaul said: "This cybersecurity bill, now headed for the House Floor, is the result of extensive bipartisan coordination in Congress and months of regular meetings and consultation with industry and privacy advocates. This bill is supported by Republicans and Democrats alike because it protects Americans' private information and encourages voluntary information-sharing about cyber threats to safeguard America's digital networks. I thank the Members of the Committee for reporting out a bipartisan bill that helps protect America's digital landscape."

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