U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after voting to approve the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act. The Committee passed the bill by a vote of 12-3.
Senator Heinrich successfully amended the bill to require that the attorney general determine a specific limitation on how long cyber information can be retained.
"Cybersecurity is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation. The future of warfare is moving further away from the battlefield and closer to the machines and the networks everyday citizens have become so dependent on.
"The ability to defend our nation against cyber-attacks requires a comprehensive approach that involves not only the federal government, but also private sector companies, while maintaining the privacy of individuals in the process.
"There is still more to do. I will continue working with my colleagues to find the best balance so that our civil liberties are protected, while strengthening our nation's ability to protect critical infrastructure and respond to cyber attacks.
"I am especially proud that research institutions, including our national labs and universities in New Mexico, will continue playing a critical role."