Senators press for increased cybersecurity attack planning – NextGov
The federal government should work with the owners and operators of critical infrastructure to develop a comprehensive plan to respond to major attacks on cybersecurity networks, according to legislation unveiled Wednesday by Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John (Jay) Rockefeller, D-W.V., and Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine.
The latest draft of their bill, which has been in the works for a year, would give the president the authority to declare a cybersecurity emergency. But the bill calls on the White House and private owners and operators of critical infrastructure, such as telecommunications systems and electrical grids, to work out in advance a response and recovery plan that would be implemented after an emergency is declared.
The president would be required to notify Congress in writing 48 hours after an emergency is declared and lay out the reasons and estimated time frame for it.
