Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Enhance Cybersecurity in Defense Supply Chain

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced the Small Manufacturer Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at providing financial assistance to small manufacturers in the defense supply chain to enhance their cybersecurity. This initiative is a response to the growing national security threat posed by cyber vulnerabilities in the defense supply chain, particularly for small manufacturers. The legislation would authorize the Department of Defense to provide financial assistance to Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers for cybersecurity services.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Small Manufacturer Cybersecurity Enhancement Act (S.4598) aims to provide financial assistance to MEP Centers for cybersecurity services to help small manufacturers in the defense supply chain.
  • The legislation would authorise the Department of Defense to provide financial assistance for awareness, assessment, evaluation, preparation, and implementation of cybersecurity services.
  • The provision was included in both the House and Senate FY21 NDAA bills.
  • Nevada is home to an MEP Center, the Nevada Industry Excellence (NVIE), which helped contribute to $80 million in sales for Nevada in FY19.
  • NVIE helps Nevada's industrial companies achieve their goals of enhanced productivity, increased profitability, and improved global competitiveness.
  • Representation Panetta (D-CA) stated that MEP Centers are uniquely positioned to assist small businesses with cybersecurity requirements and have worked closely with the Pentagon to bolster defense supply chain resiliency.
  • The American Small Manufacturers Coalition supports the legislation, stating that it will enhance the Department of Defense's continued work with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network.

Statistics:

  • $80 million in sales for Nevada was contributed by NVIE in FY19.
  • Tens of thousands of Hoosiers are employed in Indiana businesses in the defense supply chain.
  • MEP Centers are public-private partnerships located in all 50 states, with the MEP National Network proposed to be ideally situated to assist the Department to strengthen national defense.

Sources:

  • Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Senator Todd Young (R-IN)
  • Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
  • Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC)
  • Carrie Hines, President and CEO of the American Small Manufacturers Coalition
  • Nevada Industry Excellence (NVIE)