IT securityHouse's measures strengthen cybersecurity

Published 11 August 2008

House passes eight measures intended strengthen cybersecurity, promote greater sharing of unclassified information, and prevent the over-classification of information

The U.S. House of Representatives passed eight homeland security bills designed, among other things, to strengthen cybersecurity, promote greater sharing of unclassified information, and prevent the over-classification of information. Washington Technology offers a summary of the measures that the House passed.

• H.R. 3815, Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act: Sponsored by Representative Ed Perlmutter (D-Colorado), this bill would require the DHS secretary to use open-source information to develop and disseminate open-source homeland security information products.
• H.R. 4806, Reducing Over-Classification Act: Sponsored by Representative Jane Harman (D-California), this bill would require the Homeland Security secretary to develop a strategy to prevent the over-classification of information and promote the sharing of unclassified information.
• H.R. 6193, Improving Public Access to Documents Act: Sponsored by Harman, this bill would require the Homeland Security secretary to promote the use of the controlled unclassified information framework with relevant unclassified information.
• H.R. 6098, Personnel Reimbursement for Intelligence Cooperation and Enhancement of Homeland Security Act: Sponsored by Representative Dave Reichert (R-Washington), this bill would ensure that homeland security grants can be applied to retain and acquire intelligence analysts to work in fusion centers.
• H.R. 5170, Department of Homeland Security Component Privacy Officer Act: Sponsored by Representative Christopher Carney (D-Pennsylvania), this bill would provide for a privacy official within each component of the Homeland Security Department.
• H.R. 5983, Homeland Security Network Defense and Accountability Act: Sponsored by Representative. Jim Langevin (D-Rhode Island), this measure seeks to enhance DHS’ information security by giving the chief information officer authority to approve the development and implementation of information management resources.
• H.R. 5531, Next Generation Radiation Screening Act: Sponsored by Representative Peter King (R-New York), this measure would clarify the criteria for certification relating to advanced spectroscopic portal monitors and authorize the Secure Our Cities nuclear detection pilot at $40 million.
• H.R. 2490: Sponsored by Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-Florida), this bill would authorize a successful pilot program that the Coast Guard has been conducting for the mobile biometric identification in the maritime environment of individuals interdicted at sea.