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Managing America: National Security

TheWeekInCongress.com (TM)

Week Ending October 19, 2007

H.RES.716 Expressing the sense of Congress with respect raising awareness and enhancing the state of computer security in the United States, and supporting the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

200 million Americans connect to the Internet and use that connection to communicate with friends, manage finances, shop, access educational opportunities and for other purposes. Fifty percent of business use the Internet and 100 percent of schools are connected.

The preamble then points out that cyber attacks have been attempted against the US and the US economy and that individuals are subject to many types of cyber attack that robs their resources and threatens them in other ways.

To keep consumers up on the problem, the National Cyber Security Alliance as designated October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

More resolution below….

Sponsor:  Rep. James Langevin (D-RI-2^nd)

Vote:

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

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MORE INFORMATION

Whereas more than 200,000,000 American adults use the Internet in the United States, 70 percent of whom connect through broadband connections, to communicate with family and friends, manage finances and pay bills, access educational opportunities, shop at home, participate in online entertainment and games, and stay informed of news and current events;

Whereas United States small businesses, which represent more than 99 percent of all United States employers and employ more than 50 percent of the private workforce, increasingly rely on the Internet to manage their businesses, expand their customer reach, and enhance their connection with their supply chain;

Whereas nearly 100 percent of public schools in the United States have Internet access, with a significant percentage of instructional rooms connected to the Internet to enhance children's education by providing access to educational online content and encouraging self-initiative to discover research resources;

Whereas almost 9 in 10 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17, or approximately 87 percent of all youth, use the Internet;

Whereas the number of children who connect to the Internet at school continues to rise, and teaching children of all ages to become good cyber-citizens through safe, secure, and ethical online behaviors and practices is essential to protect their computer systems and potentially their physical safety;

Whereas the growth and popularity of social networking websites has attracted millions of teenagers, providing access to a range of valuable services, making it all the more important to teach teenaged users how to avoid potential threats like cyber bullies, predators, and identity thieves they may come across while using such services;

Whereas cyber security is a critical part of the Nation's overall homeland security;

Whereas the Nation's critical infrastructures rely on the secure and reliable operation of information networks to support the Nation's financial services, energy, telecommunications, transportation, health care, and emergency response systems;

Whereas cyber attacks have been attempted against the Nation and the United States economy, and the Department of Homeland Security's mission includes securing the homeland against cyber terrorism and other attacks;

Whereas Internet users and information infrastructure holders face an increasing threat of malicious attacks through viruses, worms, Trojans, and unwanted programs such as spyware, adware, hacking tools, and password stealers, that are frequent and fast in propagation, are costly to repair, and can cause extensive economic harm;

Whereas coordination between the numerous Federal agencies involved in cyber security efforts, including the Department of Homeland Security, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, and others is essential to securing America's critical cyber infrastructure;

Whereas millions of records containing personally-identifiable information have been lost, stolen or breached, threatening the security and financial well-being of United States citizens;

Whereas consumers face significant financial and personal privacy losses due to identity theft and fraud;

Whereas national organizations, policymakers, government agencies, private sector companies, nonprofit institutions, schools, academic organizations, consumers, and the media recognize the need to increase awareness of computer security and the need for enhanced computer security in the United States;

Whereas the National Cyber Security Alliance's mission is to increase awareness of cyber security practices and technologies to home users, students, teachers, and small businesses through educational activities, online resources and checklists, and Public Service Announcements; and

Whereas the National Cyber Security Alliance has designated October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month to provide an opportunity to educate United States citizens about computer security: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month; and

(2) intends to work with Federal agencies, national organizations, businesses, and educational institutions to encourage the voluntary development and use implementation of existing and future computer security voluntary consensus standards, practices, and technologies in order to enhance the state of computer security in the United States.

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