$400mil of House Cybersecurity Grants Proposed

Bipartisan lawmakers introduce bill to counter cyberattacks on state and local governments

HR 5823 Click for Details

February 10, 2020 Washington, D.C.

HR 5823 State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act

A group of lawmakers from both parties on Monday introduced a bill that would establish a $400 million grant program at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help state and local governments combat cyber threats and potential vulnerabilities. Under the legislation, DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) would be required to develop a plan to improve localities' cybersecurity and would create a State and Local Cybersecurity Resiliency Committee to help inform CISA on what jurisdictions need to do to help protect themselves from breaches.

The initial sponsors group incluldes: Reps. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), John Katko (R-N.Y.), Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) and Mike Rogers (R-Ala.). The House Homeland Security Committee is slated to hold a markup on the measure on Wednesday, February 12, 2020.

The Senate is considering similar legislation - led by Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio).