Homeland security bill becomes a magnet for cybersecurity initiatives

Legislation to create a Homeland Security Department, a top congressional priority, has begun to attract previously introduced cybersecurity and other technology-related bills as riders.

The most activity is in the House, where numerous committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction on homeland security have until July 12 to recommend changes to the legislation, H.R. 5005. Staffers for Virginia Republican Tom Davis, for instance, have redrafted several of his bills as potential amendments to the homeland measure.

"Debate over how to best structure a new Department of Homeland Security offers an excellent opportunity for Congress to address many critical, related issues," Davis said Tuesday. For instance, he said the White House proposed an information-sharing framework on threats to critical infrastructure that "gives us the momentum we need to move our information-sharing bill [H.R. 2435]."

According to Davis' spokesman, a "breakthrough" has led to changes in the information-sharing bill, such as deleting the term "cybersecurity" to allow for the inclusion of physical security; clarifying the structure of the information sharing process; and deleting the original antitrust language that sparked Justice Department concerns.

Davis also is eyeing the homeland bill to reauthorize and "give teeth" to the Government Information Security Reform Act, which expires in November, through his separate bill, H.R. 3844, on the issue. He also intends to attach procurement-related legislation: H.R. 3832, which would establish an acquisition workforce-training fund and streamline the procurement process; and H.R. 4694, which would give procurement officers more flexibility. Davis also may try to add H.R. 4629, a bill to create a central office to help vet new homeland security technologies. And Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., has shown interest attaching a Senate-introduced bill, S. 2037, to create a "NetGuard" of tech experts for emergencies.

On the Senate side, there may be fewer changes to the homeland security legislation at the committee level. The Governmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., has sole jurisdiction. Lieberman sent letters to relevant committees on June 14, asking for input before the committee votes. The vote is tentatively scheduled for the week of July 15, his spokeswoman said Tuesday. Committee members may offer amendments germane to the bill.

The homeland security bill is the third item on legislative calendar after the Senate returns from this week's recess, with final action planned by the August recess.

Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., is trying to get sections of his two cyber-security bills, S. 1900 and S. 1901, passed as part of another bill, S. 2182, sponsored by Ron Wyden, D-Ore. The two senators' offices are negotiating, and the resulting measure could be added to the homeland bill.

"We're on the lookout for the best way to get [the cybersecurity bill] through Congress, and that might include any homeland security legislation," said Michael Briggs, Edwards' press secretary.