Majority Statement

• John D. Rockefeller, IV

  Senator
  Read statement

  Majority Statement

  John D. Rockefeller, IV

  Good Morning, I want to welcome our panel of witnesses and thank you in advance for taking the time to participate in today’s important discussion.  I look forward to your testimony.

  Our topic this morning is cybersecurity.

  It is an understatement to say that Cybersecurity is one of the most important issues we face. The increasingly connected nature of our lives only amplifies our vulnerability to cyber attacks. Today’s hearing is about identifying risk and moving towards solutions, while educating the public about the very real challenges associated with having a computer connected to the Internet. For far too long, Cyber Security has perceived as too complex and as a result is often ignored - until catastrophe strikes.  

  As many of you know, I am a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and served as Chairman from 2007 – 2009.  I mention this because at the risk of sounding alarmist, I know the threats we face.  Our enemies are real, they are sophisticated, they are determined and they will not rest.  

  I do not believe it is only the job of the Intelligence Committee or our national security and defense agencies to protect us from the threats we face.  This committee can and must play a very proactive role in keeping Americans safe. 

  Let me be very clear - I will not wait for a crisis to take action now. Today’s economic climate simply does not allow room for error. 

  Cyber criminals are actively targeting banking and economic institutions every hour – even as we speak.  Cyber attacks have the potential to impact everything every part of our security and our adversaries know it – from the international power supply networks to Wall Street trading to a small online business. 

  Because the topic of cybersecurity is so vast, a single hearing cannot possibly hope to address or identify the many facets of this issue. But this hearing is the first of many under this Committee and will serve as the beginning of a very valuable foundation. 

  Witnesses

  I look forward to learning from our distinguished panel of witnesses about how we can better understand this issue.

  With us today is Dr. James Lewis, Director and Senior Fellow of the Technology and Public Policy Program with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).  CSIS works to examine issues and provide insight into creating solutions.  Today, Mr. Lewis will provide an overview of the issues and risks associated with cybersecurity as well as gaps in essential research and development.

  Dr. Joseph Weiss, Managing Partner for Applied Control Solutions, has long been a voice in the crowd urging public and private entities to understand how vulnerable our electrical power grid is to a cyber attack.

  Dr. Ed Amoroso, Chief Security Officer, AT&T, will discuss cybersecurity from a network operator’s perspective.  He will address issues in planning for and responding to attacks, and barriers to strengthening software defense.

  Dr. Eugene Spafford, Professor and Executive Director of Purdue University’s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security, will illustrate how education and research and development are impacting our ability to train the cyber workforce we need and how advancing research is critical in staying one step ahead of the bad guys. 
  

Testimony

• Dr. James Lewis

  Director and Senior Fellow of the Technology and Public Policy Program

  Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
  Download Testimony (83.22 KB)

• Dr. Joseph Weiss

  Managing Partner

  Applied Control Solutions
  Download Testimony (445.30 KB)

• Dr. Ed Amoroso

  Chief Security Officer

  AT&T
  Download Testimony (21.97 KB)

• Dr. Eugene Spafford

  Professor and Executive Director

  Purdue University’s Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security
  Download Testimony (135.75 KB)