Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday that the Senate will take up a cybersecurity measure as early as this week, and an aide said the vote is a response to last week’s massive federal employee data breach by Chinese hackers.
McConnell, R-Ky., said the Senate will take up the measure as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, which lawmakers are currently debating.
“The national defense of the country is extremely important given the cyberattacks that occurred earlier in the week,” McConnell said after meeting behind closed doors with GOP lawmakers on Tuesday. “So, we’ll be doing both the National Defense Authorization Act and cybersecurity in the course of the debate.”
The cybersecurity bill cleared the Senate Intelligence Committee in March by a 14-1 vote and is expected to win approval on the Senate floor.
The bill creates a “portal” at the Department of Homeland Security that would allow the government to receive and monitor cyber threats. It also includes privacy protections, including limits on how long the government can retain the information.
President Obama last week accused Congress of remaining in “the dark ages” when it comes to cybersecurity law, because it has never sent a bill to his desk.
The House has passed two cybersecurity bills, including the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act. That bill, like the Senate bill, would create a “hub” for information about cybersecurity threats at the Homeland Security Department that could be used to monitor and prevent breaches.
