United States House of Representatives

Enhancing preparedness and response capabilities to address cyber threats United States House of Representatives

We are all aware the cyber threat is real, from both state and non-state actors. The countless cyber attacks against the United States and its citizens, including major attacks against Target, Home Depot, OPM, and Anthem are just the tip of the iceberg. I believe that the number and magnitude of attacks will only increase, especially as more and more of our lives become connected to the internet. It is imperative that we ensure that our State and local officials, as well as our first responders, are prepared to protect against and respond to a cyber attack. Furthermore, we are seeing an increase in the number of cyber attacks that, if successful, can cause widespread physical damages to a community and require a whole-of-community response. Already, state and non-state actors have attempted to interfere with 9-1-1 call centers, sent out inaccurate alerts and warnings, and tried to take over the controls of a dam. While we have taken numerous steps to enhance our capabilities, we have a long way to go in addressing these threats.