Video: U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn says hackers have infiltrated defense industry computers and stolen 24,000 files, adding that this is not the first time. (July 14)
Now, a “working group” should not be confused with another favorite Capitol Hill creation — the “task force” — which House Republicans have decided to deploy in the war against cybercrime.
In June, Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) announced the formation of a Cybersecurity Task Force to be led by Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Tex.).
But rather than writing broad legislation, the way McCain’s proposed committee would, Thornberry’s group simply will make recommendations that the regular committees of jurisdiction will (or won’t) incorporate into their bills.
“There’s certainly a concern that [cybersecurity] touches on so many committee jurisdictions that it makes it somewhat unwieldy,” Thornberry said in an interview. Still, he said, the task force is designed to “not take the place of the committees.”
So the House idea, at least, shouldn’t leave any angry chairmen in its wake. But the task force does have one controversial feature: It only includes Republicans.
That makes little sense to Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), co-founder of the bipartisan Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, who has tried — without success — to get Boehner to add Democrats to the mix.
Since any truly comprehensive legislation will have to involve both parties anyway, Langevin argues, why not get everyone together at the table now? Thornberry responds that there would be plenty of time for that kind of “bipartisan collaboration” during the committee process.
Regardless of party, Langevin said in an interview, “There is no doubt that the jurisdictional battles in Congress are a problem when it comes to moving complex legislation through quickly.”
And what if McCain’s select panel, Thornberry’s task force, Reid’s working groups, Langevin’s bipartisan caucus and all the regular committees were allowed to take a crack at cybersecurity and still couldn’t get a bill to President Obama’s desk?
Then there might be only one solution — a blue-ribbon commission.
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