Cyber bill gets boost

[InfoSec News <isn () c4i org>]

http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2002/1021/news-cyber-10-21-02.asp

By Diane Frank 
Oct. 21, 2002

The Senate passed a bill Oct. 16 that will provide more than $900
million over five years for cybersecurity research and development.

The full Senate passed the Cyber Security Research and Development Act
(S. 2182), which authorizes funding for new research and grants
programs through the National Institute of Standards and Technology
and the National Science Foundation.

Those programs will address matters ranging from basic research into
security infrastructures to scholarships for new cybersecurity
experts.

"In the long run, all government and private-sector cybersecurity
efforts depend on people — trained experts with the knowledge and
skills to develop innovative solutions and respond creatively and
proactively to evolving threats," said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.),
sponsor of the Senate bill, during debate on the bill.

The bill's supporters made it clear that they believe the programs it
creates cannot afford to wait.

"The stakes are high, and you can bet that hackers and cyberterrorists
won't stand still, so it is important to launch these new
cybersecurity research programs as soon as possible," said Sen. John
Edwards (D-N.C.).

Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), co-sponsor of the House version of
the bill (H.R. 3394), and industry representatives, who often
expressed concerns about potential standards for security technology,
applauded the Senate's action.

The House must approve minor differences between the Senate and House
versions of the bill, which will then be sent to President Bush to
sign.

The Senate version includes making the bill's language compatible with
the Homeland Security Act and creating a program to train faculty to
teach college-level cybersecurity courses.



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