Cybersecurity is continuing to heat up on the Hill. Leadership of the Senate Homeland Security and Commerce Committees continue working together on draft legislation based on last year’s legislation, while also waiting on critical input form the White House. The Administration, through its Joint Interagency Cyber Task Force, is developing cybersecurity policy recommendations expected to be released later this month. The report may include legislative recommendations.
Meanwhile, the Senate Commerce Committee has yet to reschedule its hearing on the issue originally scheduled for last week, but this is expected to be put back on the calendar soon. SIIA supports a collaborative public-private effort to protect the Nation’s critical IT infrastructure, and will continue working with policymakers in the Congress and Administration to help achieve this common goal.
Reform of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) takes a step forward on April 6, when the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on ECPA: Government Perspectives on Protecting Privacy in the Digital Age. At issue are the rules for government access to information stored in the cloud. The witnesses will include Cameron Kerry, General Counsel of the Department of Commerce, and Associate Deputy Attorney General James Baker.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Monday announced that he will introduce a new version of his bill to combat online piracy soon. Named the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA), the legislation was approved by the Committee last year, but did not advance in the Senate. Chairman Leahy has indicated that the new bill will take into account First Amendment concerns raised last year. Also, on Monday, a group of Judiciary Committee leaders on the House and Senate joined in releasing a statement of their support for this effort. The House Judiciary Sbcmte. will have a hearing on the issue on Wednesday.