On the recordSeptember 30, 2020
I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Before I start, I want to acknowledge the gentlewoman's leadership position. I was sitting in my chair--I have been dealing with cyber issues for a long time--and when I heard Mr. Joyce agree with the gentlewoman, I almost fell out of my chair, but I didn't. I really applaud both Members for working together. Cyber issues are some of the most important national security issues that our country faces, internationally and also within our country, and coming together like this is how we get things done for our constituents. I hope people on both sides of the aisle observe what these Representatives are doing. That is the way we need to go. First, as a former Baltimore County executive, I am well aware of the problems that State and local governments face on a daily basis. They are where the rubber meets the road and the source of many of the critical services our constituents rely on, which includes schools, law enforcement, parks, fire, and libraries. Yet, according to the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, nearly half of all States do not have a dedicated cybersecurity line item in their budget. In fact, most State cybersecurity budgets are between 0 and 3 percent of their overall information technology budget.…
