Cyberczar proposed in Senate legislation

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Senators Olympia Snowe and John D. Rockefeller introduced a bill yesterday that would create a "cyberczar" position in the White House, reporting directly to President Obama.

Rockefeller, who chairs the committee on commerce and transportation, said the legislation would shore up the nation's cybersecurity by establishing the Office of the National Cybersecurity Advisor to coordinate network security between intelligence, civilian agencies and private business.

"We must protect our critical infrastructure at all costs - from our water to our electricity, to banking, traffic lights and electronic health records - the list goes on," Rockefeller said.

"It's an understatement to say that cybersecurity is one of the most important issues we face," he added. "[T]he increasingly connected nature of our lives only amplifies our vulnerability to cyberattacks and we must act now."

Snowe said the bipartisan legislation would "carve a course for our country to embrace a 21st century national security policy that will protect and preserve American cyberspace."

Snowe added that the bill reflects the recommendations in the Center for Strategic and International Studies blue-ribbon panel report to President Obama, which were embraced by a number of industry and government leaders.

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