Rep. Andy Ogles, Chairman Mark E. Green, and Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Chairman Andrew Garbarino have announced the reintroduction of a critical piece of legislation this week. H.R. 2659, known as the “Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act,” seeks to address the mounting cyber threats to U.S. infrastructure emanating from Chinese entities, specifically those with affiliations to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The bill mandates a federal evaluation of these threats and aims to bolster defenses against potential cyber intrusions.
Rep. Laurel Lee and Chairman John Moolenaar are co-sponsoring the legislation, which underscores its wide-ranging support among Committee members. A communication sent by Rep. Green and Garbarino last month to the Department of Homeland Security highlighted concerns over the Biden-Harris administration’s management of cyber scenarios involving “Volt Typhoon” and “Salt Typhoon,” two groups reportedly acting with CCP backing.
Rep. Ogles remarked on the necessity of coordinated government actions to prevent future breaches, stating, “The Chinese Communist Party is the greatest foreign adversary we face, and Beijing continues to use cyberspace as a battlefield on which to undermine American sovereignty and interests.”
Highlighting the critical nature of the issue, Chairman Green stressed, “Americans depend on critical infrastructure for vital services every day, from the phones in our pockets to the water in our homes and gas in our cars,” while noting recent cyber threats as significant indicators of broader espionage efforts.
Chairman Garbarino further commented on the spy-like activities of PRC-backed cyber groups, emphasizing the importance of the act: “This legislation directs a focused, interagency response to identify, assess, and disrupt these persistent threats.”
Rep. Lee added, “The Chinese Communist Party, through cyber threat actors like Volt Typhoon, continues to infiltrate America’s critical infrastructure, posing a direct threat to our national security and economy.” Chairman Moolenaar also pointed out the importance of equipping the federal government to handle these threats effectively, stating that the act aims to “strengthen our defenses to protect national security and our economy.”
The act seeks to establish a task force led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI to tackle cybersecurity threats stemming from CCP alliances. Moreover, the task force is required to offer Congress a confidential briefing and report annually for five years on the state of malicious CCP cyber activities. The legislation previously passed unanimously in the House in the 118th Congress, reflecting robust bipartisan support.
