Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., introduced the first cybersecuritynbill of the 113th Congress Wednesday. S-21, the Cybersecurity and American Cyber CompetitivenessnAct (http://xrl.us/bob2o7), is a message bill that expresses the sense of Congress that legislation is requirednto secure the nation's communications networks from cyberattacks. The bill is cosponsored by democraticnSens. Tom Carper of Delaware, Dianne Feinstein of California, Carl Levin of Michigan, BarbaranMikulski of Maryland, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and Chris Coons of Delaware. The bill createsnno new mandates and is intended to show that comprehensive cybersecurity legislation is going to benone of the top priorities of this Congress, a Commerce Committee aide said. The text expresses the sensenof Congress that cybersecurity legislation should enhance the security and resiliency of U.S. communicationsnnetworks, encourage cyberthreat information sharing, increase the capability of the U.S. to detectnand respond to cyberattacks against critical infrastructure networks, promote cybersecurity research andndevelopment, training and education, and protect the privacy of U.S. citizens, among other goals. "Thenprivate sector and the government must work together to secure the networks that are vital to Americannbusinesses and communities," Rockefeller said in a news release. Carper bemoaned the Senate's failure tonpass cybersecurity legislation in the last congress and said S-21 will "help lay the groundwork for a frameworknthat can balance the needs and concerns of both government and the private sector — and keepnAmericans safe." Feinstein said: "Our national and economic security depend on robust information sharing,nand I look forward to working with my colleagues again this Congress to develop strong incentivesnfor this practice, coupled with the needed privacy protections."
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