Ratcliffe Speech on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Act of 2017

The Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Mr. Ratcliffe. Mr. Ratcliffe from Texas is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today in support of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act of 2017. Mr. Speaker, we're here today to take action on what I believe is the defining public policy challenge of our generation, the cybersecurity posture of the United States. We have seen cyberattacks hit every sector of our economy with devastating impacts to both government agencies and to the private sector alike. And it's our duty to ensure that we are doing our very best to defend against the very real threats that our cyber adversaries now pose. The Department of Homeland Security is the federal government's lead civilian agency for cybersecurity, and within it, the National Protection and Programs Directorate, or NPPD, leads our national effort to safeguard and to enhance the resilience of our nation's physical and cyber infrastructure, helping federal agencies and, when requested, also helping the private sector to harden their networks and to respond to cybersecurity incidents. As the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, Mr. Speaker, so should the Department of Homeland Security. H.R. 3359 elevates the cybersecurity and the infrastructure security missions of NPPD to strengthen the federal government's ability to react and act to the changing threat landscape. The cybersecurity mission today is extremely challenging due to a number of factors, the ability of malicious actors to operate from anywhere in the world now, the linkages between cyberspace and our physical systems, and the difficulty of reducing vulnerabilities and consequences in complex cyber networks. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Act of 2017 rises to this challenge and prioritizes the Department of Homeland Security's vital role in cyberspace. By authorizing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within DHS, this bill establishes the structure, the nomenclature, and the flexibility to best serve the American people. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will be structured to best work with partners at all levels of government, from the private and the nonprofit sectors, to share information and to build greater trust in order to make our cyber and our physical infrastructure more secure. This bill provides the necessary overarching structure and the interdepartmental flexibility to best allow DHS to execute its mission in both cybersecurity and the infrastructure security space. Mr. Speaker, we consider this legislation at a great time of transition and opportunity for DHS. Just last week, Kirsten Nielsen was sworn in as the Secretary of Homeland Security. In addition to an impressive record of public service, Secretary Nielsen brings unprecedented cybersecurity experience and savvy to the agency, qualifications fitting the threat landscape that she now inherits. We owe it to her and to the dedicated women and men working alongside her to ensure that DHS has the proper organization and resources to carry out its mission as the lead civilian cybersecurity agency in our federal government. I want to thank Chairman McCaul for his leadership and his dogged determination in this effort and getting this bill to the floor, as well as the other committees of jurisdiction who worked closely to craft this compromise. Mr. Speaker, the cybersecurity challenges we face are about more than protecting bottom lines or intellectual property or even our nation's most sensitive classified information. Ultimately, our obligation as lawmakers to be productive cybersecurity stewards stems from a fundamental obligation to safeguard the American people. This is what we aim to do with this legislation and I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it. I thank you and I yield.