H.R. 4237House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Advancing Cybersecurity Diagnostics and Mitigation Act

Introduced September 6, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 7:59 AM UTC

The Advancing Cybersecurity Diagnostics and Mitigation Act would let the Department of Homeland Security set up a continuous diagnostics and mitigation (CDM) program within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The program is meant to help federal agencies, as well as state, local, tribal and territorial governments, continuously detect and fix cyber threats. It also requires DHS to create a strategy and reporting plan for the program.

Key Provisions

  • Authorizes the DHS secretary, through CISA, to deploy, operate, and maintain a CDM program that assists agencies in diagnosing and mitigating cyber threats, provides tools for collecting and visualizing security data, and offers shared services and procurement models.
  • Requires any agency using the CDM program to continuously provide the Secretary with all data, assessments, and raw information the program collects in real time.
  • Mandates DHS to share analysis, regular risk reports, and comparative risk assessments with participating agencies.
  • Directs DHS to develop a comprehensive CDM strategy within 180 days of enactment, covering program description, funding, obstacles, recommendations for tool upgrades, data analytics, and future rollout plans.
  • Requires DHS to submit a report on cybersecurity risk posture to the relevant House and Senate committees within 180 days after the strategy is completed.
  • Orders the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress within one year on the benefits of using CDM real‑time data to replace existing reporting requirements.

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Ordered to be Reported (Amended).

October 23, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 6, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

September 6, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation.

September 10, 2019

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Discharged.

October 23, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

October 23, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended).

October 23, 2019

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Latest
Introduced in HouseIssued September 6, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4237

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 6, 2019

Mr. Ratcliffe (for himself and Mr. Khanna) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a continuous diagnostics and mitigation program in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Advancing Cybersecurity Diagnostics and Mitigation Act.

2.

Establishment of continuous diagnostics and mitigation program in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

(a)

In general

Section 2213 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 663) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(g)

Continuous diagnostics and mitigation

(1)

Program

(A)

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security, shall deploy, operate, and maintain a continuous diagnostics and mitigation program for agencies. Under such program, the Secretary shall—

(i)

assist agencies to continuously diagnose and mitigate cyber threats and vulnerabilities;

(ii)

develop and provide the capability to collect, analyze, and visualize information relating to security data and cybersecurity risks at agencies;

(iii)

make program capabilities available for use, with or without reimbursement, to civilian agencies and State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments;

(iv)

employ shared services, collective purchasing, blanket purchase agreements, and any other economic or procurement models the Secretary determines appropriate to maximize the costs savings associated with implementing an information system;

(v)

assist entities in setting information security priorities and assessing and managing cybersecurity risks; and

(vi)

develop policies and procedures for reporting systemic cybersecurity risks and potential incidents based upon data collected under such program.

(B)

Regular improvement

The Secretary shall regularly deploy new technologies and modify existing technologies to the continuous diagnostics and mitigation program required under subparagraph (A), as appropriate, to improve the program.

(2)

Agency responsibilities

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each agency that uses the continuous diagnostics and mitigation program under paragraph (1) shall, continuously and in real time, provide to the Secretary all information, assessments, analyses, and raw data collected by the program, in a manner specified by the Secretary.

(3)

Responsibilities of the Secretary

In carrying out the continuous diagnostics and mitigation program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, as appropriate—

(A)

share with agencies relevant analysis and products developed under such program;

(B)

provide regular reports on cybersecurity risks to agencies; and

(C)

provide comparative assessments of cybersecurity risks for agencies.

.

(b)

Continuous diagnostics and mitigation strategy

(1)

In general

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop a comprehensive continuous diagnostics and mitigation strategy to carry out the continuous diagnostics and mitigation program required under subsection (g) of section 2213 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 663), as added by subsection (a).

(2)

Scope

The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall include the following:

(A)

A description of the continuous diagnostics and mitigation program, including efforts by the Secretary of Homeland Security to assist with the deployment of program tools, capabilities, and services, from the inception of the program referred to in paragraph (1) to the date of enactment of this Act.

(B)

A description of the coordination and funding required to deploy, install, and maintain the tools, capabilities, and services that the Secretary of Homeland Security determines to be necessary to satisfy the requirements of such program.

(C)

A description of any obstacles facing the deployment, installation, and maintenance of tools, capabilities, and services under such program.

(D)

Recommendations and guidelines to help maintain and continuously upgrade tools, capabilities, and services provided under such program.

(E)

Recommendations for using the data collected by such program for creating a common framework for data analytics, visualization of enterprise-wide risks, and real-time reporting, and comparative assessments for cybersecurity risks.

(F)

Recommendations for future efforts and activities, including for the rollout of new and emerging tools, capabilities and services, proposed timelines for delivery, and whether to continue the use of phased rollout plans, related to securing networks, devices, data, and information and operational technology assets through the use of such program.

(3)

Form

The strategy required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in an unclassified form, but may contain a classified annex.

(c)

Report

Not later than 180 days after the development of the strategy required under subsection (b), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representative a report on cybersecurity risk posture based on the data collected through the continuous diagnostics and mitigation program under subsection (g) of section 2213 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 663), as added by subsection (a).

(d)

GAO report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to Congress on the potential impacts and benefits of replacing the reporting requirements under chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, with periodical real-time data provided by the continuous diagnostics and mitigation program under subsection (g) of section 2213 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 663), as added by subsection (a).