S. 773 would ensure the continued free flow of commerce within the United States and with its global trading partners through secure cyber communications, to provide for the continued development and exploitation of the Internet and intranet communications for such purposes, to provide for the development of a cadre of information technology specialists to improve and maintain effective cybersecurity defenses against disruption.
Detailed Summary
Cybersecurity Act of 2009 - Directs the President to establish or designate a Cybersecurity Advisory Panel to advise the President.
Directs the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) develop and implement a system to provide cybersecurity status and vulnerability information regarding all federal information systems and networks managed by the Department of Commerce; and (2) provide financial assistance for the creation and support of Regional Cybersecurity Centers for small and medium sized U.S. businesses.
Requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish cybersecurity standards for all federal government, government contractor, or grantee critical infrastructure information systems and networks.
Makes NIST responsible for U.S. representation in all international cybersecurity standards development.
Directs the Secretary to develop or coordinate a national licensing, certification, and recertification program for cybersecurity professionals and makes it unlawful to provide certain cybersecurity services without being licensed and certified.
Requires Advisory Council approval for renewal or modification of a contract related to the operation of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority.
Requires development of a strategy to implement a secure domain name addressing system.
Requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support specified types of research and to establish a program of grants to higher education institutions to establish cybersecurity testbeds.
Amends the Cybersecurity Research and Development Act to expand the purposes of an existing program of computer and network security research grants.
Requires the NSF to establish a Federal Cyber Scholarship-for-Service program.
Requires NIST to establish cybersecurity competitions and challenges to recruit talented individuals for the federal information technology workforce and stimulate innovation.
Requires the Department of Commerce to serve as the clearinghouse of cybersecurity threat and vulnerability information. Grants the Secretary access to all relevant data concerning such networks notwithstanding any law or policy restricting access.
Directs the President to: (1) develop and implement a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy; (2) on a quadrennial basis, complete a review of the cyber posture of the United States; and (3) work with representatives of foreign governments to develop norms, organizations, and other cooperative activities for international engagement to improve cybersecurity.
Requires the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Commerce to submit to Congress an annual report on cybersecurity threats to and vulnerabilities of critical national information, communication, and data network infrastructure.
Establishes a Secure Products and Services Acquisitions Board to review and approve high value products and services acquisition and establish validation standards for software to be acquired by the federal government.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Bob
April 22, 2009, 1:32pm (report abuse)This is a really, really stupid law.
Ken98
April 27, 2009, 8:02am (report abuse)Wow... lets end our freedom of speech.
johnsontj
(logged in user) August 28, 2009, 9:47pm (report abuse)Good-bye, Free Speech. Good-bye, Constitution. (Very scary stuff.)
jayne
August 29, 2009, 12:48pm (report abuse)A MUST Read; W. Cleon Skousen, The Five Thousand Year Leap. You're Right, Good-bye, Constitution, that is unless we stop the socialist politicians in their tracks and vote them out of office!! There's power in unity, it's time Americans to unite. The self-serving politicians who praise Chavez and Castro have got to go!!
LisaSage
(logged in user) August 30, 2009, 1:50pm (report abuse)This is Very Scary stuff!!
This bill is so vague a *cyber emergency* could be just about anything. Our access to the internet will be entirely controlled by the White House!!
Who are these control-freaks in Congress?
Karen Stansel
August 30, 2009, 2:15pm (report abuse)We have illegals crossing our borders everyday killing people, or letting us support them and your worried about the internet? Why don't you worry about those coming into our nation and kidnapping our own for ransom! How about figuring out a way to bring all those jobs that went overseas back home so AMERICANS stop losing theirs homes from lack of work. How about you stopping the oil companies from raising the stinking gas prices and making millions off those of us who are already struggling to survive? Why don't you people do some real work and actually earn those ridiculous paycheck we pay you for once and leave our rights alone!
Alisa Hodel
August 31, 2009, 4:50am (report abuse)Not Scary at all - the implementation of controls and regulations is long outstanding - it is time that these topics are addressed and regulated by laws. Well done!! I support this motion.
Freddie
September 1, 2009, 9:24pm (report abuse)Come on, folks! If you want to control and subjugate the people in this day and age, you need to control the internet!
LisaSage
(logged in user) September 2, 2009, 4:20am (report abuse)Ok, I'm adding Alisa Hodel to the list of scary. Seriously, hun, you have to lay off the Socialist-slurpy.
I'd like to introduce you to a little document titled the U.S. Constitution, otherwise known as the supreme law of our land. Just copy and paste this link:
http://tinyurl.com/u1pn
Pay particular attention to Article I Section 8, there are only 20 enumerated powers granted to Congress. Accessing, controlling and regulating communications among the people is NOT one of them.
Affirming this we have the First Amendment, which clearly states that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. The Supreme Court has not only reaffirmed this [repeatedly] but has also interpreted it as applying to the executive branch as well.
Earl
September 2, 2009, 1:03pm (report abuse)The WEB is a system of information pipelines. The Russians tried to limit there's, but that was a no-go. Our military tried to limit access during desert storm without success. This is why it's called a WEB. Security is a major issue for any Internet user. Shutting down your communication is as easy as turning off your account. Then you'll go to the liberary and use that computer. To shut a group of like thinking individuals off would require ahutting down the WWWeb.
SovereignMary
October 8, 2009, 10:30pm (report abuse)Alisa's favorite tune must be "Tip-Toe thru the Tulips" without a thought in my head!
Alisa -- Please find the book 'The Law' by Frederic Bastiat. Even this Frenchman knew much more about keeping our U.S. Constitutional protections then you seem to.
Informant756
October 17, 2009, 2:07pm (report abuse)Make no mistake about it, this is the most important issue on their agenda right now. They desperately want this. It will mean the end of free speech once and for all. If it happens we will all officially be slaves to the elite.
illuminatiMustGo
October 28, 2009, 8:41am (report abuse)Look at who introduced the bill, his family has been in the illuminati since the beginning. This is all about restricting information flow. This isn't about democrat or republican because they are the same behind closed doors. The two parties are just a way to divide the people. I am quite alarmed at how fast they are moving in the past 10 years though. The internet is the last big obstacle that they need to crush before they can completely control us. My theory is that their whole purpose in the end is to prepare the world for the anti-Christ or as the muslims call him, Dahjal. Get your souls and guns ready because the last days are near.
Cruise
November 14, 2009, 12:14am (report abuse)This seriously shows you the level of idiocy in the white house. This is a democracy. Not communism.