Senate Passes Cyber Research Bill Unanimously, But President Must Still Sign

The bill, which still awaits President Bush's signature, authorizes hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for cybersecurity programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) to support research into cybersecurity threats and training of a new generation of computer scientists to respond to them.

The bill would provide $903 million in grants over five years to NSF and NIST programs.

The NSF program would provide funding for research centers devoted to cybersecurity, as well as courses to educate IT professionals and computer-science students alike, while the NIST effort would support joint research among federal agencies, private companies and academia.

Richard Clarke, Bush's advisor on cybersecurity matters, has emphasized in a series of recent town meetings around the United States the importance of public/private partnerships in order to make progress on addressing cyber threats.

The Cyber Security Act, originally introduced by Wyden, would also require that the National Academy of Sciences report to Congress on vulnerabilities in the computer networks that control the nation's electrical power, transportation and other infrastructure.

Edwards inserted into the Senate bill a provision that NIST create checklists federal agencies and departments can refer to in order to minimize their computer security risks.

In the same vein, Clarke is seeking input from solution providers, CIOs and other interested parties about methods to protect these systems at www.securecyberspacea.gov. The draft of Clarke's National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace is available for public comment until November 18.

In June, this bill's companion legislation, H.R. 3944, spearheaded by Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 400-12.