Pallone, DeGette, Schakowsky Urge Further Congressional Action to Address Cyber Attacks

Statement

Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to reports that hackers breached the computer system of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), potentially compromising the personal information of four million federal workers. Both subcommittees have held hearings this year to find ways to better address cybersecurity threats and massive data breaches.

"The announcement that up to four million federal workers may have had their personal information stolen in this cyber breach represents the latest failure to protect American data against cyber threats.

"There are now two types of Americans: those whose data has been subject to a breach, and those whose data will be breached in the future.

"We will continue looking at ways to protect personal data from hackers, but we also need to craft new ways to make it harder for thieves and hackers to use personal information when it is stolen. It is not enough to simply compensate workers or consumers with a "free year' of credit monitoring after their data gets pilfered. As we figure out how the federal government can fully protect our data, we must ensure that the private sector is doing its part to safeguard personal information as well.

"We are asking Chairman Upton to immediately schedule briefings on this matter so that we can better understand how this happened and work together to find solutions."

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