On the recordJuly 17, 2018
Mr. President, I wish to make a few comments about the topic in the news today and yesterday and, hopefully, will result in some action by Congress; that is, the threats we face as a Nation regarding our electoral system. First I would like to recognize the Presiding Officer of the Senate, Senator Rubio, for working with Senator Van Hollen to come up with a piece of legislation called the DETER Act, which I think will serve us well. If the Director of National Intelligence certifies that a foreign power--Russia or anyone else--is trying to attack our electoral infrastructure, they will pay a heavy price. Today is July 17, 2018. On Friday, last week, I think it was July--I don't know the dates; I just got back from traveling. So on Friday of last week, a few days ago, the Director of National Intelligence said the following: ``The warning lights are blinking red again. Today, the digital infrastructure that serves this country is literally under attack.'' How much more do we need as a body and as a nation to rally ourselves to act while there is still time? He indicated that our cyber space strategies emphasize only defense, not offense as well, evoking President Reagan's Cold War approach to the Soviet Union. Mr. Coats suggested that if Russia continues to try to take on the United States in the cyber arena, then the administration should throw everything we have into that exercise.…





