Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke introduced bipartisan legislation today to assess the risks that our nation’s critical infrastructure face from cyber attacks. 

The bill – the Identifying Cybersecurity Risks to Critical Infrastructure Act of 2012 – directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to identify threats to critical infrastructure from foreign intelligence services, cybercriminals, and hacker group; the exploitable vulnerabilities in our networks, and the potential consequences of an attack.

“We know that a cyber attack could undermine our national security and our economy, both of which depend on the use of the Internet,” said Representative Yvette D. Clarke, the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. “The number of attacks on our infrastructure by cyber criminals has increased substantially in recent years, echoing a call to action for our government to create initiatives that would bolster our nation’s cybersecurity.”

“This issue is far too important, and the risk of cyber attack on our critical infrastructure is too grave, to let another Congress pass without taking action. I am pleased to have had this opportunity to work on this legislation with my colleague and Chairman, Representative Dan Lungren. He understands that everyone, Democrats and Republicans, have an obligation to protect Americans from these threats,” concluded Representative Clarke.

                                                                                                            ###