Intel Update
Written by George Meyers
GIF 2012 Volume: 10 Issue: 1 (February)
Budget Issues
By now, everyone has heard the news about the budget. The good news is the intelligence community fared much better than everyone else. There seems to be a good understanding that intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance is important—even in times of peace.
With the drawdown of “people”, there will be much more interest in automatic platforms and systems to replace these assets. One thing is certain: People have become used to having information and intelligence and they are not going to stop anytime soon.
White House Cyber Plan
White House Cyber Coordinator Howard Schimdt has introduced a new strategy for cybersecurity research and development. The purpose of his plan is to better coordinate efforts to neutralize cyber-attacks through:
- Inducing change to get to the root causes of existing cybersecurity deficiencies, with the goal of disrupting the status quo
- Developing scientific foundations to minimize future cybersecurity problems by developing the science of security
- Maximizing research impact by catalyzing coordination, collaboration and integration of research activities across federal agencies
- Accelerating transition to practice, where research on how to improve cybersecurity makes its way to the commercial sector though transition programs.
If You Think Nothing Is Getting Done
Since January 3, 2011, the Senate has introduced 1,914 bills, while the House has introduced 3,508 bills. A total of 80 bills were signed into law in 2011. The 112th Congress started January 3, 2011, and ends January 3, 2013. We are halfway through the 112th Congress, and it has already introduced a total of 5,422 bills.
Bill: H.R. 3674
Sponsor: Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.)
Committee: House Science Space and Technology
Description: Amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make certain improvements in the laws relating to cybersecurity and for other purposes. Referred to subcommittee on January 12, 2012.
Bill: S. 413
Sponsor: Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.)
Committee: Senate Homeland Security
Description: Amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and other laws to enhance the security and resiliency of the cyberand communications infrastructure of the United States. Hearing held in Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs.
Bill: H.R. 47
Sponsor: Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.)
Committee: House Intelligence
Description: Provide a civil penalty for certain misrepresentations made to Congress and for other purposes. In Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
Bill: H.R. 67
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.)
Committee: House Judiciary; House Intelligence
Description: Extend expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 until February 29, 2012. In the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.
Bill: H.R. 109
Sponsor: Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.)
Committee: House Constitution
Description: Establish a national commission on presidential war powers and civil liberties. Referred to House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution.
Bill: H.R. 174
Sponsor: Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.)
Committee: House Oversight and Government Reform
Description: Enhance homeland security, including domestic preparedness and collective response to terrorism, by amending the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Cybersecurity Compliance Division. In the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations, and Procurement Reform.
Bill: H.R. 514
Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.)
Committee: House Homeland Security
Description: Extend expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 relating to access to business records, individual terrorists as agents of foreign powers, and roving wiretaps until December 8, 2011. Became Public Law 112-3.
Bill: H.R. 703
Sponsor: Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.)
Committee: House Judiciary
Description: Amend section 798 of title 18, U. S. Code, to provide penalties for disclosure of classified information related to certain intelligence activities of the United States and for other purposes. In the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.
Bill: H.R. 2096
Sponsor: Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas)
Committee: House Science, Space, & Technology
Description: Advance cybersecurity research, development and technical standards and for other purposes.
Bill: S. 1469
Sponsor: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)
Committee: Senate Foreign Relations
Description: Require reporting on the capacity of foreign countries to combat cybercrime, to develop action plans to improve the capacity of certain countries to combat cybercrime and for other purposes.
Bill: S. 1152
Sponsor: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.)
Committee: Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation
Description: Advance cybersecurity research, development and technical standards and for other purposes.
Bill: S. 1159
Sponsor: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)
Committee: Senate Armed Services
Description: Require a study on the recruitment, retention and development of cyberspace experts.
Bill: S. 8
Sponsor: Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.)
Committee: Senate Foreign Relations
Description: Build a comprehensive strategy to confront the nuclear threat from Iran and North Korea; enhance U.S. tools for pursuing key national security interests; and avert and respond to catastrophic cyber-incidents.
Bill: S. 372
Sponsor: Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.)
Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation
Description: Reduce the ability of terrorists, spies, criminals and other malicious actors to compromise, disrupt, damage and destroy computer networks, critical infrastructure and key resources, and for other purposes. ♦
George Meyers is a senior vice president with Cassidy and Associates.
