Rep. Lofgren Statement on GAO Report On DHS Critical Infrastructure Protection
May 26, 2005
Media Contact: Heather Wong, 202.225.3072
‹ Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on critical infrastructure protection report, “Department of Homeland Security Faces Challenges in Fulfilling Cybersecurity Responsibilities”. The report comes at the request of Reps. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), who served as Chairman and Ranking member, respectively, on the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity in the 108th Congress.
“This GAO report only confirms what we have known all along — the DHS has failed to meet the responsibility for critical infrastructure protection. And even worse, this report proves that a national plan to secure our cyber networks is virtually nonexistent,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose). “There is no doubt that these vulnerabilities will continue to hamper our homeland security efforts if we do not make cyber security a major priority. As long as our critical infrastructures are interconnected and interdependent, the likelihood that a cyber attack will disrupt major services or cripple our economy will remain and the threat will increase.”
Rep. Lofgren is the co-author of H.R. 285, bipartisan legislation that would create an Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity position within the Department of Homeland Security's Information Analysis and Infrastructures Protection Directorate and to shore up cyber protection and telecommunication efforts with the Department of Homeland Security. H.R. 285 passed in the House of Representatives this month as part of the Homeland Security Authorization bill.
“The Department needs to be advancing on cyber security. We cannot afford to sit back and make minimal, if any, progress in critical infrastructure protection. It is essential that the DHS establish organizational authority with an assistant secretary for cybersecurity position within the DHS. The individual responsible for leading the government’s cyber security efforts must have more authority within the Department of Homeland Security,” Lofgren continued.
‹ Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on critical infrastructure protection report, “Department of Homeland Security Faces Challenges in Fulfilling Cybersecurity Responsibilities”. The report comes at the request of Reps. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), who served as Chairman and Ranking member, respectively, on the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity in the 108th Congress.
“This GAO report only confirms what we have known all along — the DHS has failed to meet the responsibility for critical infrastructure protection. And even worse, this report proves that a national plan to secure our cyber networks is virtually nonexistent,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose). “There is no doubt that these vulnerabilities will continue to hamper our homeland security efforts if we do not make cyber security a major priority. As long as our critical infrastructures are interconnected and interdependent, the likelihood that a cyber attack will disrupt major services or cripple our economy will remain and the threat will increase.”
Rep. Lofgren is the co-author of H.R. 285, bipartisan legislation that would create an Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity position within the Department of Homeland Security's Information Analysis and Infrastructures Protection Directorate and to shore up cyber protection and telecommunication efforts with the Department of Homeland Security. H.R. 285 passed in the House of Representatives this month as part of the Homeland Security Authorization bill.
“The Department needs to be advancing on cyber security. We cannot afford to sit back and make minimal, if any, progress in critical infrastructure protection. It is essential that the DHS establish organizational authority with an assistant secretary for cybersecurity position within the DHS. The individual responsible for leading the government’s cyber security efforts must have more authority within the Department of Homeland Security,” Lofgren continued.
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