Overview
Title
An Act To ensure the security and integrity of United States critical infrastructure by establishing an interagency task force and requiring a comprehensive report on the targeting of United States critical infrastructure by People’s Republic of China state-sponsored cyber actors, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 9769 is a new plan to keep important things like power and water safe from hackers, especially those from China. It creates a special team to work together and make a list of ways to protect these important systems better.
Summary AI
H.R. 9769, also known as the “Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act,” aims to protect U.S. critical infrastructure from cyber threats by establishing a new task force. This task force, led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) along with other federal agencies, will coordinate efforts to counteract cyber threats, specifically those from Chinese state-sponsored actors. The task force is required to provide detailed reports and recommendations to Congress regarding the risks and necessary measures to enhance cybersecurity. The bill also includes provisions for an awareness campaign and mandates reports on the impact of potential cyber disruptions.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The bill, titled the "Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act," aims to bolster the security and integrity of the United States' critical infrastructure by establishing an interagency task force. This task force is charged with assessing and addressing cybersecurity threats specifically from state-sponsored actors, like those from the People's Republic of China, identified by names such as Volt Typhoon. The bill outlines the creation of classified and unclassified reports assessing these threats and the U.S.'s preparedness, which will be submitted to certain congressional committees for oversight.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several significant issues arise from the provisions in this bill. First, the establishment of the interagency task force could lead to overlaps or redundancies with existing groups, prompting concerns about interagency coordination and authority. The provision allowing for both classified and unclassified reports may also create tensions between maintaining necessary security and public transparency. Additionally, the exemptions from federal requirements like the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act could reduce oversight, raising accountability concerns. Lastly, the explicit focus on cyber threats from China could have diplomatic repercussions, impacting international relations.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, the bill aims to enhance national security by ensuring critical infrastructure is resilient against cyber threats. This effort is crucial for maintaining the functioning of essential services and protecting the public from potential disruptions. However, the focus on state-sponsored threats, particularly from China, and the task force's potentially classified operations, could lead to concerns about government transparency and public access to important findings.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For government agencies, the task force's establishment may result in improved coordination and efficacy in dealing with cyber threats. Yet, it could also lead to jurisdictional conflicts or resource overlaps with existing entities focused on cybersecurity. For the general public, there is a dual impact: increased safety regarding infrastructure resilience versus limited access to information due to necessary security classifications. Businesses connected to critical infrastructure may gain valuable resources and insights from federal support but might also face increased scrutiny and regulatory pressures. Diplomatic relations with China could be adversely affected, requiring careful handling to avoid turning cybersecurity defenses into a larger political issue.
Overall, while the bill has the potential to strengthen U.S. cybersecurity resilience, it also represents a delicate balance between security and openness, cooperation among federal entities, and the broader impacts on international diplomacy.
Issues
The establishment of the interagency task force, as outlined in Section 2(a), might raise concerns regarding the balance of power among federal agencies and the potential for overlap or redundancy with existing groups. This raises potential legal and administrative issues about interagency coordination and the scope of the task force's authority.
The provision in Section 2(f)(5) that reports can include classified and unclassified information might raise concerns about transparency. While classified reports are necessary for security, ensuring that significant findings reach the public in an understandable form is important. The balance between security and transparency could be contentious.
The exemption from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and the Paperwork Reduction Act in Section 2(i) and 2(j) respectively, could be seen as a way to streamline processes but may also lead to concerns about reduced oversight and accountability for the task force’s actions.
Section 2(f)(6) requires the unclassified executive summary of each report to be published on a publicly accessible website, prompting concerns about the dissemination of sensitive information and its potential impacts on cybersecurity if not properly managed. Ensuring security in public communication is crucial.
There might be political and diplomatic implications arising from the explicit focus on cyber actors from the People’s Republic of China, as mentioned throughout Section 2. This could impact international relations and necessitates delicate handling to avoid exacerbating tensions.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
This section states that the official name of the Act is “Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act”.
2. Interagency task force and report on the targeting of United States critical infrastructure by People’s Republic of China State-sponsored cyber actors Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text outlines the creation of an interagency task force led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to address cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure in the U.S. from state-sponsored actors like those from China. This task force will assess risks, suggest resources, and prepare classified reports on the threat level and U.S. preparedness, with findings shared with certain congressional committees.