I just do not understand why the Federal Government did not then instruct States and local public health officials to concentrate on this priority group.

We cannot call the czars or the heads of offices within the Executive Office of the President before this Committee.

When Senator Lieberman and I sat down to implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission back in 2006, we quickly realized that one of the Commission's recommendations having to do with the placement of the National Counterterrorism…

the one huge lever you have. There is nothing close to it. If you want to change security, the lever you have is procurement.

It was the right decision. It has been judged as success by virtually everyone.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

We think it is time for that data to be encrypted so that merchants never have those card numbers in their system.

Thank you. Those are very helpful suggestions and ones that we should adopt.

I found very compelling the story that you told of a Federal official essentially begging the head of Microsoft to provide a more secure configuration.

I do have a couple more questions and one comment.

We are living in a wondrous new age of global information, an era that is being shaped by digital technology.

The information and communication networks that we refer to as cyberspace have become critical to our economy, our national defense, and our homeland security.

But are there no computer programs that one can use to check to see if an intrusion has occurred?

That is exactly the issue because what may seem to be an isolated attack affecting one business in one State may, in fact, be part of a network of attacks on several different businesses.

Do the retailers know what law enforcement to go to?

He believes that, as drafted, the RFP is highly likely to produce a platform that would make the users vulnerable to spoofing.

I still think there is a lack of clarity here.

we need to use the procurement power to increase the security of hardware and software that is bought.