Commerce Hearing to Focus on Public-Private Efforts to Improve Cybersecurity

January 29, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will convene for a full committee hearing, “Building a More Secure Cyber Future: Examining Private Sector Experience with the NIST Framework” on Wednesday, February 4, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. The hearing will examine potential next steps for the public and private sectors, and for Congress, on the issue of cybersecurity, as well as progress by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in implementing its February 2014, “Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity.”

“There is no quick fix to guard against cyber threats,” said Thune in calling the hearing. “Real progress can be made by continuing to enhance public-private cooperation and improving cyber-threat information sharing. This hearing is part of a continued  bipartisan effort to make it more difficult for dangerous hackers, criminals, and malicious state actors in our increasingly Internet-based society.”

The Commerce Committee held two hearings in the 113th Congress on NIST’s role in cybersecurity. After a decade without major cybersecurity legislation, five cybersecurity bills were signed into law in December 2014. This group included the Cybersecurity enhancement Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-274/S. 1353), originally introduced by Sens. Rockefeller (D-W.V.) and Thune as the Cybersecurity Act of 2013. That law ensures a voluntary and industry-led framework with NIST’s continued involvement, and also includes provisions for research, development and education to help improve our nation’s cyber defenses.  

Hearing Details:


Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Full Committee Hearing entitled:  “Building a More Secure Cyber Future: Examining Private Sector Experience with the NIST Framework”

10:00 a.m. in room SR-253

Witnesses to be announced.

 

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