Rockefeller, Snowe Retool Cyber Bill
Senate Commerce Chairman John (Jay) Rockefeller and Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, plan to circulate after the August recess a retooled version of sweeping cybersecurity legislation they introduced in April, CongressDaily's PM Edition reported on Friday. The bill will likely be the subject of a September hearing, with a markup scheduled shortly thereafter. They had been aiming for July committee action but the healthcare debate "put everything on simmer," said one staffer.
One of the bill's most controversial provisions, which high-tech policy watchers say would give the president the power to effectively shut off the Internet during a cyber crisis, has been a critical component of discussions with stakeholders. It is uncertain how the measure may change in light of the White House's roadmap for fighting high-tech attacks, which was released in May. The original bill would establish an Office of the National Cybersecurity Adviser within the Executive Office of the President. But under the administration's plan, the cyber czar will report to the National Security Council and the National Economic Council.
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