Senate Approves Bill to Codify National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center

WASHINGTON- Today, the Senate approved the National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014. The legislation would codify the existing cybersecurity and communications operations center at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), known as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center. The bill calls on the Center to serve as a federal civilian information sharing interface for cybersecurity. It also authorizes the Center’s current activities to share cybersecurity information and analysis with the private sector, provide incident response and technical assistance to companies and federal agencies, and recommend security measures to enhance cybersecurity.

“Cyber security is one of the biggest national security challenges our country faces. Our laws should reflect that reality,” said Chairman Carper. “By codifying the Department of Homeland Security’s existing cybersecurity operations center, the National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014 bolsters our nation’s cybersecurity while providing the Department with clear authority to more effectively carry out its mission and partner with private and public entities. It is critical that the Department continues to build strong relationships with businesses, state and local governments, and other entities across the country so that we can all be better prepared to stop cyber attacks and quickly address those intrusions that do occur. I would like to thank Dr. Coburn and his staff for their hard work on this important piece of legislation and my colleagues in the Senate for their support.”

“Cyber attacks are one of the biggest national security threats facing our nation,” said Ranking Member Coburn. “Every day, adversaries are working to penetrate our networks and steal the American people’s information at a great cost to our nation. One of the best ways that we can defend against cyber attacks is to encourage the government and private sector to work together and share information about the threats we face. By codifying DHS’s cyber security information sharing center, this bill sets the stage for future legislation for cyber security information sharing that includes liability protections for the private sector.”

S. 2519, the National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014, was originally introduced as the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center Act of 2014 by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center Act in June 2014.