Via DarkReading.com -
One of the common criticisms of the creation of a national cybersecurity coordinator position within the White House has been that the position lacks real teeth.
Two Congressmen Thursday introduced bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives that would give the position budget authority and more.
The Executive Cyberspace Authorities Act of 2010, introduced by Reps. Jim Langevin, (D-R.I.) and Michael McCaul, (R-Texas), and co-sponsored by five others, would make the cybersecurity coordinator a permanent, Presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed position under the title of the director of the National Cyberspace Office.
The National Cyberspace Office, in turn, would be a new entity tasked with "coordinating issues relating to achieving an assured, reliable, and survivable" IT infrastructure in government and beyond.
“This legislation will help fill a critical void in our cybersecurity infrastructure,” Langevin, who is also co-chair of the House Cybersecurity Caucus, said in a statement. “While the President’s establishment of a Cybersecurity Coordinator was an encouraging step, the position was not given the proper authorities to adequately secure our networks and coordinate IT policy across government.”
Currently, White House cybersecurity coordinator Howard Schmidt does not have budget authority. His position is also one that has no Congressional requirement, meaning that future presidents could simply choose to do away with the job.
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