FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 22, 2022

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jeanette.lenoir@mail.house.gov 

c: 202.480.5737

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee applauded the announcement by Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams of new efforts to improve New York’s cybersecurity. 

“I am glad to see Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams are prioritizing addressing cyber threats by increasing investments in cybersecurity, launching a new Joint Security Operations Center in Brooklyn, and prioritizing the development of the cyber talent pipeline. Enhancing the cybersecurity of state and local governments has been a focus of mine in Congress, and as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I secured $1 billion in new state and local cybersecurity grant funding. This new grant program will ensure New York can continue to build on the important efforts announced today. State and local governments have seen an onslaught of ransomware attacks in recent years and need to strengthen their cyber defenses. These threats are a national security issue, and the Federal government must be a supportive partner through additional resources and enhanced information sharing. As Chairwoman of Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee, I will continue to work with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to ensure state and local governments have the assistance they need to protect against cyberattacks,” said Congresswoman Clarke.

In May of last year, Congresswoman Clarke introduced H.R. 3138, the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act, which passed the House in July. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by President Biden in November included this bill and $1 billion in funding to state and local governments for strengthening cyber defenses over the next four years.

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Yvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York’s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce on Immigration, a Senior Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and a Senior Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security.