WASHINGTON, D.C. – Former 9/11 Commission Co-Chairs Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton Monday called for stronger cybersecurity measures to protect the nation’s most critical, life-sustaining infrastructure from catastrophic attack.  

In addition, CBS’ 60 Minutes broadcast a story Sunday on the vulnerability of the cyber systems running the nation’s critical infrastructure. The broadcast can be seen here: http://bit.ly/wbGquG

In a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kean and Hamilton wrote: “With cyber attacks becoming more sophisticated and pervasive, it is paramount that the federal government takes the steps necessary to prepare the nation to prevent and mitigate the effects of potentially catastrophic cyber attacks on the nation’s critical infrastructure…   Unfortunately, jurisdictional and procedural objections to considering cyber security legislation are now being raised.  This homeland security issue is too critical for it to succumb to such conflicts between committees.”  

The four Senate co-sponsors of bipartisan cybersecurity legislation – Senators Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. – released the Kean-Hamilton letter, which follows:

March 5, 2012

The Honorable Harry Reid    The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Senate Majority Leader        Senate Minority Leader                

S-221, The Capitol                S-230, The Capitol 

Washington, DC 20510         Washington, DC 20510

 Dear Majority Leader Reid and Minority Leader McConnell:

We write to urge the U.S. Senate to take up cyber security legislation in the near future.  Recently, the Director of National Intelligence and the FBI Director both warned Congress about the advanced nature of the cyber threat.  These warnings should not be ignored.

Much like the situation before the September 11th, 2001, attacks, the federal government is not adequately organized to deal with a significant emerging national security threat.  With cyber attacks becoming more sophisticated and pervasive, it is paramount that the federal government takes the steps necessary to prepare the nation to prevent and mitigate the effects of potentially catastrophic cyber attacks on the nation’s critical infrastructure.  

Comprehensive legislation is needed to flesh out a range of pressing cyber security policy questions, including how the federal government should defend against and respond to cyber attacks and what measures private sector owners of critical infrastructure should take to prevent the damage or disruption of their often interconnected and interdependent networks.  Nothing less than the security of our electricity, communications, financial, and water systems is at stake. 

We are encouraged by the significant legislative drafting efforts by multiple Senate Committees over the last three years, and hope that the bipartisan cyber security legislation they have produced can be brought to the floor.  One of the reasons that the 9/11 Commission recommended the establishment of one committee with jurisdiction over homeland security issues was to ensure that there would not be a failure to act on important issues because of jurisdictional conflicts.  Unfortunately, jurisdictional and procedural objections to considering cyber security legislation are now being raised.  This homeland security issue is too critical for it to succumb to such conflicts between committees.  

  Sincerely,

  Tom Kean                                                Lee Hamilton

  Co-chair, 9/11 Commission                     Co-chair, 9/11 Commission

  Co-chair, Homeland Security Project      Co-chair, Homeland Security Project

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