Mark Gordon: “I rise in support of H.R. 2413. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr.…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 2413. The gentleman from Wisconsin (Chairman Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) have already outlined the provisions of this bill. I would like to take a couple of minutes to stress two points. First, the provisions of this bill are technologically neutral; and second, the bill would allow for strong private sector input in the development of good Federal computer security and authentication practices. The bill that we have on the floor today is the result of 2 years of bipartisan work on the Committee on Science. The Committee on Science has held numerous hearings on these provisions, and we have incorporated constructive changes suggested by the industry and the administration. The resulting legislation strengthens NIST's role in improving the computer security practices at Federal agencies. It also authorizes NIST to advise the agencies as needed on the deployment of electronic authentication technologies. These provisions ensure that the private sector has a strong voice in the development of electronic authentication policies considered by the Federal agencies and that agencies rely on commercially available products and service as much as possible. The bill also makes clear that any Federal policies on computer security and electronic authentication practices by Federal agencies must be technologically neutral.”