STB Information Security Improvement Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4921) to require the Surface Board of Transportation to implement certain recommendations of the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4921, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the STB Information Security Improvement Act requires the Surface Transportation Board to develop a timeline and plan to implement the recommendations and improvements outlined in its information security system.

After a concerning report from the Department of Transportation inspector general that outlined deficiencies in the STB's information security system, it is imperative that changes be made and there are improvements in that system rapidly.

When the STB separated from DOT, Department of Transportation, in December 2015, the agency gained full responsibility and control of its IT system, and it currently lacks any meaningful or strong cybersecurity system.

The improvements needed include basic building blocks, such as changes to policies and procedures. The STB is encumbered by a number of weaknesses, and its information security program has been determined by the OIG to be at a low level of maturity according to OMB standards.

A summary of the bill is it requires the STB, the Surface Transportation Board, to create a timeline and plan to implement recommendations made by the DOT Office of Inspector General in their report. Additionally, it requires the Surface Transportation Board to annually update Congress on its progress until it has effectively been completed and updated.

This bill ensures that the Surface Transportation Board addresses these deficiencies so the agency can reduce the risk of an attack or compromise to this critical information system.

I believe this bill will improve the Surface Transportation Board's information security and is a good piece of legislation and oversight.

I again thank Chairman Shuster, Chairman Denham, and Mr. Gottheimer for working with me on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the bipartisan nature of the bill. My colleague supported the bill, and Mr. Gottheimer is a cosponsor.

I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, very briefly, this is a short bill, an easy bill. It simply tells the STB that they should do something about cybersecurity as directed by their own inspector general.

It is a very simple bill. It is a bipartisan bill. It is something we should pass as quickly as we can.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4921 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.