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Politics

Dan Webster, Bill Nelson Want Feds to Craft Cybersecurity Guidelines for Small Businesses

April 24, 2017 - 11:30am

U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla., is leading the charge on Capitol Hill to help small businesses with cybersecurity with a new bill while the senior senator from Florida is going to bat for similar legislation in the upper chamber.  

Towards the end of last week, from his perch on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Webster brought out the “NIST Small Business Cybersecurity Act” which would have the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) work with other federal agencies to create guidelines to help small businesses beef up their cybersecurity. The bill ensures small businesses can follow the guidelines on a voluntary basis and will come out of already existing funds. 

Webster reeled in the support of U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, who chairs the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee to which the bill was sent on Thursday. Other supporters include the two representatives who lead the House Research and Technology Subcommittee: Chairwoman Barbara Comstock, R-Va., and ranking Democrat U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski of Illinois. U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Fla., is also a co-sponsor. 

As he brought out his bill on Thursday, Webster made the case for why it was needed and stressed the important role small businesses play in the nation’s economy. 

“America’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy, accounting for more than half of all American jobs and a critical part of the job market in my district," Webster said. “As an owner of a multi-generational small business, I understand the importance of equipping and empowering small businesses to tackle challenges so they can grow and prosper. This bill will provide small businesses in my district, state and across the country with the tools they need to meet the threats and challenges of the modern world.”

“This legislation is vital to ensuring our small businesses have the technical understanding they need to keep their confidential business and customer information secure,” Smith said. “I’d like to thank Congressman Webster for his leadership on this important issue. Small businesses frequently don’t have the expertise to adequately monitor and protect their computer systems, making them especially susceptible to crippling cyber-attacks. The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s unique position as a global leader in cybersecurity knowledge and readiness provides the impetus for a public-private cybersecurity partnership to generate simplified guidance that small businesses can implement to increase their cyber resilience across the board.

“We must do everything we can to ensure our small businesses, which make up a substantial portion of our economy and employ almost four and a half million workers in my home state of Texas, have the necessary capabilities to protect themselves,” Smith added. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this crucial legislation passed and sent to the president’s desk quickly.”

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, has a similar bill in the Senate which has the support of U.S. Sen. John Thune, R-SD, and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

“Cyberattacks are happening against computer systems, large and small, whether they are operated by a multi-billion dollar corporation or a small utility in rural Florida," Nelson said when Schatz brought out the bill last month.  “This bill will provide valuable guidance to small businesses to help them fight against hackers who seek to bring down their networks or steal information about their customers.”

Comments

Although well intentioned IT'S NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS JOB! It's high time they get back to the limited role the Constitution says they have. We don't need Federal tax dollars spent on bullshit like this.

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