Rep McCaul: Cybersecurity legislation is 'top' priority next Congress

One of the top priorities for new House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) next Congress is to bring a cybersecurity bill to the floor that has "buy-in" from industry.

When he takes up the chairman's gavel next month, Rep McCaul said he plans on meeting with industry players, including tech companies and critical infrastructure operators, to get their feedback on what measures they think should be in cybersecurity legislation. Chairman McCaul said he also hopes to travel with other committee members to various sites where critical infrastructure is housed. "I think cybersecurity legislation will be the top legislative priority for the committee next Congress and after I appoint the subcommittee chair of cybersecurity, I initially intend to hold a 'listening post' with stakeholders—whether it be the high-tech sector, critical infrastructures in the private sector—to get their take on legislation, what they would like to see in a bill in an attempt to get buy-in from the private sector in what we do," Chairman McCaul said. "You'll see a bill coming out of the Homeland Security Committee," he said. "That's one of my top priorities as chairman."