VIDEO: Following Expiration of Critical Cybersecurity Protections, Peters Calls on Colleagues to Immediately Pass Bipartisan Extension

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following the expiration of critical cybersecurity protections, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, called on his colleagues to immediately pass a bipartisan, clean, long-term extension to renew the authorities and protect our nation against cyberattacks. In his remarks on the Senate floor, Peters raised concerns about how the expiration of these protections makes our nation more vulnerable to cyberattacks from cybercriminals and foreign adversaries, and urged his colleagues to immediately pass his bipartisan bill that would extend the law for another 10 years.

"Yesterday, I came to the floor to warn that critical cybersecurity protections that have been in place for a decade were set to run out," said Senator Peters. "Unfortunately, one of my colleagues objected, and as of midnight they have now expired. As a result, we are without this critical line of defense. Our economy, our infrastructure, and our government are exposed. It is now going to be more challenging to protect businesses and critical infrastructure against cyberattacks - at a time when our adversaries' attacks continue to grow more aggressive and more sophisticated."

Peters continued: "Every hour we delay is an open invitation to cybercriminals and hostile actors to attack our economy and our critical infrastructure. I urge my colleagues to put our national and economic security first, and pass this clean, long-term extension."

To watch video of Senator Peters' remarks, click here.

In April, Peters and U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the cybersecurity law for another ten years. Officials from the Trump Administration and more than 100 companies and industry stakeholders support extending these cybersecurity protections for 10 more years, including the Business Roundtable, the Business Software Alliance, the Banking Policy Institute, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Information Technology Industry Council.

Since it was first enacted, the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 has been instrumental in fostering voluntary information sharing and collaboration between industry leaders and federal agencies, enabling the identification and mitigation of cybersecurity threats. Information sharing about security flaws also helps prevent significant breaches and helps support victims of attacks as they recover.

In his role on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has led efforts to ensure our nation is better prepared to defend against cyberattacks. His historic, bipartisan provision to require critical infrastructure owners and operators to report if they experience a substantial cyberattack or if they make a ransomware payment was signed into law. Peters' bipartisan bills to enhance cybersecurity assistance to K-12 educational institutions, bolster cybersecurity for state and local governments, strengthen the federal cybersecurity workforce, and help secure federal information technology supply chains have also been signed into law.

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