Senate passes cybersecurity measures

The Senate passed multiple measures directing the Department of Homeland Security to deal with cybersecurity and anti-terrorism issues.

The National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center Act (S. 2519) authorizes DHS to create an operations center for oversight of critical infrastructure protection and cybersecurity. The bill also encourages information sharing about cyber threats between federal, state and local governments. The Critical Infrastructure Research and Development Advancement Act (H.R. 2952) directs the DHS Secretary to send Congress a strategic plan on federal physical security and cybersecurity technology research and development efforts. The Secretary would also be required to give Congress updates every two years. The Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act (H.R. 4007) reestablishes the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Program within DHS and authorizes appropriations for the program through 2017. All three measures head to the House for further action since amendments were added in the Senate.