DHS Roles and Responsibilities in Cyber Space Act

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are closing out the Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support for 23 important measures to make our communities more secure and improve Department of Homeland Security operations in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.

I am particularly pleased that we were able to reach agreement on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act to expand and strengthen this vital program so that more nonprofits and houses of worship can access security assistance at this time of heightened threats of violent extremism and terrorism. With antisemitic and other violent threats on the rise, it is clear this legislation is needed now more than ever.

I also want to thank Ranking Member John Katko, as he retires from Congress, for his contributions to the Homeland Security Committee and his critical support throughout this process for the Committee's bipartisan package found in Division G of the NDAA.

While the package reflects the contributions of so many of my colleagues, l would like to give special acknowledgment to Congresswoman Val Demings who championed the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act. This legislation directs DHS to explore ways to provide needed bridge funding to cities to preserve homeland security capability gains accomplished through the Urban Area Security Initiative grant program when they no longer receive such funding.

With respect to cybersecurity, I am pleased that we were able to reach agreement on bipartisan provisions that originated in the Committee on Homeland Security. They include Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin's legislation to reauthorize the Secret Service's National Computer Forensics Institute, Congresswoman Elaine Luria's bill to authorize DHS's President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition, and legislation authored by Congressman Eric Swalwell aimed at improving DHS's cybersecurity training to protect industrial control systems.

While I am enormously proud of the bipartisan homeland security provisions that were included, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my disappointment that we were not able to reach agreement with the Senate on amending the law to treat TSA's workforce like most other Federal employees or authorize the vital work of DHS's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. We will continue to seek an agreement on these critical measures.

Lastly, I am particularly proud that the NDAA honors my late friend, Congressman A. Donald McEachin, by including his bill, the DHS Mentor- Protege Program Act, to help small businesses better compete for DHS contracts. It is a fitting tribute to my friend that we came together to pass a bill to open doors of opportunity to small businesses-- something that he was passionate about doing.

Mr. Speaker, the full list of Homeland Security Committee measures that will be enacted by this year's NOAA is as follows:

H.R. 6825, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS).

H.R. 5615, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act, sponsored by Rep. Val Butler Demings (D-FL).

H.R. 6387, the School and Daycare Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ).

H.R. 8801, the DHS Joint Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA) and S. 4656, the DHS Joint Task Forces Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Sen. Gary C. Peters (D-MI).

H.R. 2915, the Homeland Procurement Reform Act, sponsored by Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA) and S. 1009, the Homeland Procurement Reform Act, sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

H.R. 6824, the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act, sponsored by Rep. Elaine G. Luria (D-VA).

H.R. 7777, the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Training Act, sponsored by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA).

H.R. 7174, the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and S. 4673, the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

H.R. 5574, the TSA Reaching Across Nationalities, Societies, and Languages to Advance Traveler Education Act (``TRANSLATE Act''), sponsored by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) and S. 3296, the TSA Reaching Across Nationalities, Societies, and Languages to Advance Traveler Education Act (``TRANSLATE Act''), sponsored by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5658) to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report on the cybersecurity roles and responsibilities of the Federal Government, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, given the magnitude and complexity of the current cybersecurity threat landscape, coordination among DHS components to address growing and evolving risks in cybersecurity is critical. It is important that DHS components coordinate in a manner that reflects how their respective expertise can fit into the broader DHS cybersecurity strategy.

While the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has the most notable role in cybersecurity at DHS, other components also have considerable cyber expertise.

For example, the Secret Service has a critical role in investigating cybercrimes, and the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard provide cybersecurity support for the transportation sector.

As DHS develops its cybersecurity strategy and incident response planning, it must consider how best to use each of these components and must carefully define roles and responsibilities so that components understand their duties during a cyber incident.

To that end, H.R. 5658 directs DHS to provide a report to Congress that explains the roles and responsibilities of its components in cyber incident response. The report is to include information on how DHS' authorities and CISA's incident response plans are utilized in the Federal Government's overall cyber incident response efforts.

This report will help ensure that DHS is developing a coordinated effort to provide Congress critical information regarding the authorities needed to facilitate effective cyber incident response.

I thank Representative Bacon for collaborating with the Homeland Security Committee on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, in recent years, we have seen several cyber incidents that have demonstrated the importance of effective incident response planning.

With cyber incidents occurring across many sectors, DHS plays a unique role as the lead Federal coordinator for securing critical infrastructure. Passing this bill will help ensure that DHS and its components have the properly defined roles and responsibilities necessary to carry out this mission effectively.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5658. I am sure we all look forward to spending quality time together as we do roll call votes on all of these noncontroversial, bipartisan bills this week, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 5658, the DHS Roles and Responsibilities in Cyber Space Act.

Many recent cyber events, to include the Russian probing of U.S. critical infrastructure, have shown that enhancing the security and resilience of our critical infrastructure must be a top priority for Congress and for the Nation.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, is the lead Federal Agency for asset response during a significant cyber incident, as directed by Presidential Policy Directive 41. CISA is also the lead Federal coordinator for securing critical infrastructure across all 16 sectors, in coordination with designated sector risk management agencies.

This bill outlines specific reporting requirements that DHS, in concert with CISA, must submit to Congress. These requirements include: review of utilization of Federal cyber incident response plans; explanation of roles and responsibilities of DHS in the Federal Government's response to a cyber incident; explanation of DHS authorities and how its components respond to a cyber incident; and recommendations to provide further clarity on roles and responsibilities of DHS in cyber incident response.

This bill will help clarify Federal roles in cyber incident response, thereby eliminating confusion in the midst of an actual cyber event.

I thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for sponsoring this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 5658, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.