NSA Director Says Security Standards Are Necessary for Critical Cyber Networks, Information Sharing is Not Enough

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The head of the military’s Cyber Command said Tuesday that information-sharing among critical infrastructure owners and operators is not enough to protect their cyber networks against attacks from rival nations, criminals, terrorists, and pranksters. Information sharing combined with security standards are needed to confront the growing cyber threat, said General Keith Alexander.

Rockefeller Statement on FTC Privacy Report

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV issued the following statement today after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) unveiled its online privacy report with recommendations for the industry and policymakers:

Rockefeller, Cummings, and Harkin Investigate “Fake Pharmacies” Buying and Selling Shortage Drugs in the Gray Market

WASHINTON, D.C.—Today, Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Senator Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, sent letters requesting documents from licensed pharmacies that are buying up drugs that are desperately needed to treat cancer and other illnesses and are in critically short supply, and are selling these drugs back into the gray market instead of providing them to patients who need them.

Rockefeller Remarks on Commercial Airline Safety Oversight

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Safety has always been the principal goal of the aviation community, and my primary focus since I joined the Commerce Committee more than 20 years ago. Every member of the aviation community begins their workday focused first and foremost on safety. For commercial airline and federal employees—from the pilots, flight attendants and the air traffic controllers, to the mechanics and the technicians, safety is paramount throughout their daily work. And this emphasis has paid off—the last U.S. fatal passenger accident was February 12, 2009. The past few years have been the safest in the history of the U.S. aviation industry. The reason we have been successful is that we are constantly striving to make even the smallest safety improvements. It is a continual effort, and that is why we are here today.

Sen. Hutchison Wins Passage of Landmark Bus Safety Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) today applauded the passage of the bipartisan bill, The Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2011, introduced by Senators Hutchison and Sherrod Brown.  The landmark legislation will dramatically improve bus and motorcoach safety standards.  “Too many lives have been wasted in tragedies that are entirely preventable because of […]

Push for Cybersecurity Bill Continues

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Key industry stakeholders and top administration officials continue to weigh in on the need for cybersecurity legislation. In a letter to sponsors of the Cybersecurity Act of 2012, defense contractor Northrop Grumman yesterday urged action to protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats. And today, Commerce Secretary John Bryson penned an op-ed in POLITICO on the need for immediate action on cybersecurity legislation.

Chairman Rockefeller Remarks on Keeping America Competitive Through Investments in R&D

WASHINGTON, D.C.—I would like to welcome all of our witnesses here today to discuss the President’s budget request for federal research and development (R&D) and progress made toward meeting the goals of the America COMPETES Act. The COMPETES Act has three primary goals to increase American innovation and competitiveness:  double federal R&D investments in science […]