New act combats cyber attacks

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, advocated for the unanimous passage of the Cyber Deterrence and Response Act, which would combat cyber attacks

The Times

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-8th dist.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, advocated for last week’s unanimous passage of the Cyber Deterrence and Response Act, which would combat cyber attacks.

“Our adversaries continually engage in sophisticated cyber attacks designed to disrupt our critical infrastructure, harm our economy and undermine our elections. We have seen continued hostility from state-actors like Russia to undermine our democratic institutions and trigger instability in Europe by weakening key partners like Ukraine and Georgia,” Fitzpatrick said. “The Cyber Deterrence and Response Act establishes a clear framework to deter and respond to state-sponsored cyber threats. It provides harsh sanctions through suspension of developmental assistance and credit allotment to nations engaged in malicious state-sponsored cyber activities against the United States.”

The Cyber Deterrence and Response Act [H.R. 5576], co-sponsored by Fitzpatrick, establishes a three-step process for identifying, deterring and responding to state-sponsored malicious cyber activities. This bill requires the president to name and shame state-sponsored malicious cyber actors by designating them as “critical cyber threats” and to impose sanctions for carrying out hostile cyber activities against the United States.

For years, top U.S. government officials have warned of the persistent and growing threat to national security from foreign adversaries in cyberspace. China, North Korea, Iran, Russia and other nations have developed sophisticated capabilities that can disrupt networks, endanger infrastructure, harm the economy and undermine elections. ••