On the recordFebruary 25, 2010
The threat of cyberattack on our computer and Internet infrastructure as well as the threat of cyberwarfare cannot be overstated. The need for congressional action to assure adequate funding is in place to guarantee that our country is prepared for any contingency that may arrive in this relatively new area of warfare is critical. I believe, as a nation, our investment in cybersecurity will be the Manhattan Project of our generation. H.R. 2701 authorizes the funding to make this investment a reality. Cyberthreats and attacks are real, and they threaten our financial and defense networks every day. Nearly every aspect of everyday life in our global society is dependent on the security of our cybernetworks. We rely on these systems to carry virtually all of our business transactions, control our electric grid, emergency communication systems, and even traffic lights. The most troubling cyberthreat may be the very real prospect of state-sponsored cyberattacks against sensitive national security information. We must take steps to protect our cyberinfrastructure, but to do that in such a way that we do not infringe on individuals' rights to privacy. We have a number of organizations in government that work on cybersecurity, and we in Congress need to ensure that these organizations are sharing this information with each other in an effective, reliable, and safe manner. This must be one of our top priorities.
