On the recordAugust 2, 2012
I rise to express my disappointment that we are taking a vote that is very premature. Not that we have not been discussing this bill for over a year. I have certainly been one of the first to say that we should vote on a cyber security bill. This is a complicated bill. It is a bill that did not get marked up in committee. In our discussions, we are talking about amendments. I want to say that the proponents of the bill before us have certainly been willing to talk and adjust and try to make changes in the bill. It is not there yet even though we have been meeting pretty much constantly. There are three different groups that have a very strong interest. All of us are interested in getting a cyber security bill, but none of us likes what is before us--well, obviously the proponents of the bill like what is before us. But two other groups are very concerned about further needs in the bill. Let me say that we have an alternative called SECURE IT. It is cosponsored by eight of the ranking members of committees and subcommittees that have jurisdiction over cyber security. Senators McCain, myself, Chambliss, Grassley, Murkowski, Coats, Burr, and Johnson are cosponsoring a bill that could pass the House and go to the President. My concern with S. 3414, on which we are voting on cloture, is on the process, because we have not had a chance to amend this bill.…
