Senate Commerce panel announces cybersecurity bill

The Senate Commerce Committee announced a draft bill aimed at improving the nation's defenses against hackers.

The draft, which is backed by Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and ranking member John Thune (R-SD), is an attempt to forge a compromise on cybersecurity after repeated attempts to pass legislation through the Senate failed last term. Chairman Rockefeller expects to mark up the legislation later this month, according to a committee aide. The draft bill would task the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a Commerce Department agency, with developing voluntary cybersecurity standards and best practices for critical infrastructure, such as banks and power plants. The legislation also aims to improve cybersecurity research, education and public awareness.