Reps. Ratcliffe, Khanna Introduce Legislation to Modernize Cybersecurity Program at DHS

Representatives John Ratcliffe (R-TX) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) are expected to introduce legislation this week to advance and modernize the Department of Homeland Security’s Continuous Diagnostics Mitigation program. The Advancing Cybersecurity Diagnostics and Mitigation Act would codify the department’s CDM program and expand CDM capabilities to additional agencies at the federal, state, and local level. Specifically, the act would:

• Codify the work of the CDM program to date
• Require DHS to make CDM capabilities available and develop policies for reporting cyber risks and incidents based upon data collected under CDM
• Direct DHS to deploy new CDM technologies to continuously evolve the program
• Require DHS to make CDM program capabilities available to civilian departments and agencies, as well as so state, local, and tribal governments
• Require DHS to develop a strategy to ensure the program continues to adjust to the cyber threat landscape