Contact: Chris McManes IEEE-USA
Supported the Cyber Security Research and Development Act, Passes
Overwhelmingly in the WASHINGTON (7 February 2002) — In its continuing efforts to protect our nation from cyber terrorism, IEEE-USA supported the Cyber Security Research and Development Act (H.R. 3394), which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives today on a vote of 400 to 12. The five-year, $887.85 million bill would create new research and education programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These programs are designed to address the nation's extraordinary vulnerability to attacks upon computer systems and networks, and the critical national infrastructures that rely upon them (e.g., water systems and electricity grids). The bill was introduced by House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.) and Ranking Member Ralph M. Hall (D-Texas) and has the support of the White House. "We commend Chairman Boehlert and Ranking Member Hall for shining a spotlight on the shocking level of vulnerability to our vital information infrastructure," IEEE-USA President LeEarl Bryant said. "IEEE-USA stands ready and willing to help advance H.R. 3394 in the Senate." The proposed legislation is designed to promote more innovative research in cyber security and to attract more senior researchers and students into the field. This will help address the inadequate protection current technology offers, and provide more research and development into better security for computer systems and networks that protect critical aspects of daily life. "IEEE-USA is pleased to support this bill, which will pay dividends not only for protection against cyber terrorism, but also for commerce and personal privacy," said IEEE-USA Research and Development Policy Committee Chair Ron Hira at a Capitol Hill press conference organized by Rep. Boehlert. A transcript of Hira's remarks is appended at the end of this document. IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers created in 1973 to promote the careers and public-policy interests of the more than 230,000 electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who are U.S. members of the IEEE. The IEEE is the world's largest technical professional society. For more information, visit us online at http://www.ieeeusa.org. 1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 1202 Washington, DC 20036-5104 Phone: 202-785-0017, Fax: 202-785-0835. | Top of Page | News Releases | IEEE News | IEEE | IEEE-USA | |
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Ron
Hira, chair of the IEEE-USA Research and Development Policy Committee Good afternoon and thank you for inviting me here today. I'd like to echo the praise given by others to Chairman Boehlert and Ranking Member Hall for their leadership in introducing and working hard to pass this important bill. The Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers-United States of America, also known
as IEEE-USA, is a professional technical society with more than 230,000
members. Our members are electrical, electronics, computer and software
engineers who work in government and industry, work as private consultants
and are professors and students in our universities. There are many excellent provisions in today's legislation, and I would like to highlight one in particular. The committee has done a remarkable job in understanding the richness of our research enterprise and the symbiotic relationships of those parts. Specifically, the bill includes research that will be conducted in universities, government and industry. Each of these institutions brings something important to the table when it comes to research. In addition, the bill recognizes the importance of training future professionals. While some of these folks will become cyber security researchers and professors, many will become cyber security practitioners. The purpose of research is not only to advance the state of the art, but also to ultimately advance the state of the market. Only through all of the mechanisms in this bill will we be able to achieve both. In order to advance the state of the art and the state of the market, we need to advance the state of the science in cyber security. Systematic research is the way in which the cyber security profession can codify its lessons learned, develop its common language, and most importantly, advance the practice of cyber security. IEEE-USA is pleased to support this bill, which will pay dividends not only for protection against cyber terrorism, but also for commerce and personal privacy. Thank you very much.
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| Top of Page | News Releases | IEEE News | IEEE | IEEE-USA | Last Updated: 07
February 2002 |
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