House lawmakers on Monday approved a bill aimed at addressing the vulnerabilities to technologies used in critical applications. The bill, H.R. 5733, the DHS Industrial Control Systems Capabilities Enhancement Act directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify cyber threats to such critical systems, and find solutions.
The bill was offered by Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), and was passed by the house in a voice vote.
“The next ‘Pearl Harbor attack’ will not be with missiles and torpedoes alone, but will be paired with attacks to our private sector functions needed to support our daily lives, such as our electric grid,” said Bacon.
“DHS provides critical support to operators of industrial control systems (ICS), and my bill clarifies this responsibility so the Department can continue to identify and address threats to ICS in critical infrastructure. Any disruption or damage to critical infrastructure has the potential to cause catastrophic consequences to our nation’s public health and safety, economic security, and national security.”
