Amodei votes for bipartisan cybersecurity legislation

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brian Baluta, 202-225-6155

April 26, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Mark Amodei (NV-2) this week voted in favor of a series of bipartisan bills aimed at strengthening America's defenses against cyber-attacks, including H.R. 3523, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act.

"Every day, American information technology systems are attacked by adversaries ranging from lone-wolf hackers to the foreign intelligence agencies and militaries of such nations as Russia, China, and Iran," said Amodei. "Rather than going toe-to-toe with U.S. armed forces, would-be enemies have determined that it's possible to inflict far more damage by crippling the computer systems upon which so much of our daily life and economy depends."

Developed in close consultation with a broad range of private sector companies, trade groups, privacy and civil liberties advocates, H.R. 3523 would:

Help private sector job creators defend themselves from attacks by nation-states by allowing the government to provide intelligence information needed to protect their networks and their customers’ privacy.

Keep the federal government’s hands off the Internet, and does not allow the government to stop access to particular websites, or to censor or require private companies to remove content.

Protect Americans’ privacy by prohibiting Washington from forcing private companies to hand over information while encouraging companies to “anonymize” information voluntarily shared with others.

"I'm a private sector guy and this is a private sector solution," said Amodei. "The bill would not require additional federal spending or create new government bureaucracy, regulations or unfunded mandates."

Praise for H.R. 3523, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act

Additional background on H.R. 3523

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