Brooklyn, N.Y. – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke issued the following statement about the breach of security of forty million debit and credit cards used at Target stores between November 27 and December 15, threatening millions of Americans with identity fraud in the holiday shopping season.

The risks of unauthorized disclosure are particularly high during the holidays, when the increased number of transactions conceals other irregularities that could indicate a problem for banks and their customers.

“This failure to protect consumer information that should have remained private – and encrypted – demonstrates that we need to have a comprehensive policy on cybersecurity that protects Americans at the shopping mall and on their computers,” said Congresswoman Clarke, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies in the House of Representatives. 

With several colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee – both Democrats and Republicans – Congresswoman Clarke introduced “National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2013.” The bill would support collaboration between federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and with private companies to develop the best practices to protect information that should remain private.

Congresswoman Clarke continued: “This bill would require the development of security systems that are safe from hackers and other cyber terrorists, and allow private companies such as Target to utilize these systems in their effort to protect families from identity fraud. We have shared responsibility to the families of this nation to protect their private information.”

U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke is a member of the House Committee on Small Business, Ethics, and Homeland Security, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. She represents many neighborhoods in central and southern Brooklyn, NY which include Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Gerritsen Beach, Madison, Midwood, parts of Park Slope and Flatlands, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay, and Windsor Terrace.