On the recordSeptember 21, 2016
I want to thank Chairman Chabot, Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Velazquez, and Ranking Member Thompson for the support of their committees on this bill. This bill was a collaborative endeavor and all of their staffs worked hard and long to help ensure this bill made it to the floor today. I also want to thank the bill's lead sponsor, Representative Kilmer, for working with us on this bipartisan legislation. America's small businesses are a critical part of our Nation's economy. There are 28 million small businesses, and in recent years they have increasingly become the victims of cyber attacks. By one estimate, nearly 70 percent of all cyber attacks are now being directed at our Nation's small businesses. The reason for this is clear. Small businesses too often lack the resources or the experience required to make prudent investments in cybersecurity. The Improving Small Business Cyber Security Act addresses this issue by empowering the more than 900 Small Business Development Centers across our country to provide cyber support to these small businesses. This support would be offered in accordance with a small business cybersecurity strategy, which would be developed jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Small Business Administration. Cyber attacks can decimate small businesses, potentially costing them tens of thousands of dollars to recover lost data and secure networks.…
