REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ CONSULTS HOMELAND SECURITY EXPERTS ON CRITICAL CYBERSECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE VULNERABILITY OUTREACH

WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), senior member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, questioned public sector Homeland Security experts during a Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies hearing, “Value of DHS’ Vulnerability Assessments in Protecting our Nation’s Critical Infrastructure.”

Sanchez received testimony from Homeland Security officials at the federal and state level regarding efforts that provide programs and initiatives to enhance the security and resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure.

Because the majority of all U.S. critical infrastructures is privately owned, the effectiveness of vulnerability assessments depends upon the voluntary collaboration of private sector owners and operators.

Rep. Sanchez praised successful voluntary engagement with both large companies and small businesses, while noting, “But we also have had a set that have declined to even tell us what they’re doing, tell us what they might have, or ask us to take a look from an experts’ standpoint to maybe help them.”

Rep. Sanchez asked, “What can we do to engage those companies who are still outside of what we are doing?”

The Department of Homeland Security’s Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications, Dr. Ozment answered, “I think that is really a fundamental question for us all and I really appreciate you putting your finger on it…Having a local, regionally deployed presence is critical because ultimately companies or small and medium businesses, or state and local governments, work with the federal government when they have a trust.”

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Homeland Security Advisor and Director of the Office of Homeland Security, Mr. Marcus L. Brown answered, “From the field what we’ve found out is that the more the assessments and the training is done, the more you have other facilities wanting the training.”

Rep. Sanchez is a strong supporter of engaging voluntary public-private partnerships in cybersecurity infrastructure to ensure all stakeholders are aware of emerging threats and have a voice in improving new technologies to enhance the security and resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure.

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Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez is proud to represent California’s 46th Congressional District, which includes the cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, and parts of the cities of Garden Grove and Orange in Orange County. She serves as a senior member on the Committee on Homeland Security and the House Armed Services Committee, and as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces.