House votes to boost government cyber protection, cyber research

The House passed three bills aimed at updating the federal government's cybersecurity controls, and boosting research and education in information technology fields. None of the three bills were controversial, and all were easily approved under a suspension of House rules, which requires a two-thirds majority vote for passage.

1. In a 416-0 vote, members passed the Federal Information Security Amendments Act, H.R. 1163. That bill updates the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) to require the government to more actively assess federal safeguards against cyberattacks.
2. The House also approved the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act, H.R. 756. That bill requires federal agencies to plan for cybersecurity R&D, boosts basic cyber research at the National Science Foundation, provides scholarships to help improve the federal workforce on cyber issues, and increases research at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. That bill passed 402-16.
3. The House approved a third bill aimed at coordinating cyber R&D in the federal government. The Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act, H.R. 967, directs agencies to periodically assess funding levels for various programs and shift those funds around when needed. It was easily approved in a 406-11 vote.