Democrats seek Obama's help on cybersecurity

On July 1, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and six Senate committee leaders urged President Barack Obama to back their effort to advance legislation aimed at protecting critical information technology systems from attacks.

In a letter to President Obama, the senators said they plan to produce a comprehensive cybersecurity bill, although they did not specify when it would happen. "Executive branch leadership is key to the nation's cybersecurity and we are eager to hear your views on the optimal organizational structure, necessary updates and reforms to legislation and regulations governing communications networks and information systems, and additional authorities needed to facilitate effective government leadership and response to cyber threats and vulnerabilities," they wrote.

The letter was signed by Sen Reid, Commerce Committee Chairman John (Jay) Rockefeller (D-WV), Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI), Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA).