Lawmakers join forces on cybersecurity legislation

Senators from several committees are working together to craft comprehensive cybersecurity legislation by the end of the year, the head of a key oversight committee said on Monday. Lawmakers are open to a range of legislative options aimed at better protecting Web sites against hackers and improving cooperation between the federal government and private sector, said Sen Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Possibilities include introducing cybersecurity requirements for private sector firms, he said. The Homeland Security Department "has not done well," Chairman Lieberman said after a hearing. "They are not doing enough on cybersecurity in my opinion." Movement toward a comprehensive bill comes after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) asked lawmakers to combine efforts, according to Chairman Lieberman. Several senators --including Sens Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Tom Carper (D-Delaware) -- have introduced their own cybersecurity bills. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will work with the Armed Services, Commerce, Intelligence and Judiciary panels on the legislation, according to Chairman Lieberman.