House Passes State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act to Boost Government Network Protection

The House of Representatives passed the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at bolstering the cybersecurity of state and local governments, following a series of high-profile ransomware attacks on the Syracuse City School District and Onondaga County Public Library System. The bill, introduced by Rep. John Katko (R, NY-24), authorizes a new grant program at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to combat cybersecurity vulnerabilities and requires state and local governments to develop comprehensive cybersecurity plans to qualify for grant eligibility.

Key Takeaways:

• The State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act authorizes a $400 million DHS grant program to incentivize states to increase their own cybersecurity funding.
• The bill requires DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to develop a strategy to improve the cybersecurity of state, local, tribal, and territorial governments.
• To qualify for grant eligibility, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments must develop comprehensive cybersecurity plans.
• The bill establishes a State and Local Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee to advise CISA on cybersecurity needs.
• The resource guide for state, local, tribal, and territorial government officials will provide guidance on identifying, preparing for, and responding to cyberattacks.

Statistics:

• 400 million: The authorized amount for the DHS grant program to combat cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
• 2: The number of prominent ransomware attacks on the Syracuse City School District and Onondaga County Public Library System.
• 10 years: The number of years that state and local governments have been frequent targets for cyberattacks.

Sources:

• "U.S. Rep. John Katko Announces Passage of State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act" (Office of Rep. John Katko)
• H.R. 5823, State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act (NA)