Political Quotes

“I have collaborated with the Chairman and Ranking Member on this statement and I am pleased to submit it into the Record with their concurrence. I appreciate the Committee's efforts to ensure the Department has the necessary cybersecurity resources to safeguard our Nation's digital infrastructure. In recent years, prominent intelligence, defense, and homeland security officials have expressed alarm over the rapidly increasing cyber threat and our inadequate cyber defenses, and we ignore those warnings at our own peril. Former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta recently noted the potential of escalating cyber threats to culminate in a new ``cyber Pearl Harbor; an attack that would cause physical destruction and the loss of life'' and ``paralyze and shock the nation and create a new, profound sense of vulnerability.'' America's critical infrastructure remains a prime target for cyber attacks that are rapidly escalating in terms of scale and sophistication. Failure to secure the sensitive networks that underpin our financial institutions, utilities, and government leaves our country vulnerable to attacks that could cripple our economy or endanger our national security. Enhancing our cybersecurity capabilities should be a top homeland security priority, and it is absolutely vital that we cultivate a robust cyber workforce to carry out that mission.…”