Foreign adversaries, like China and Russia, take every opportunity they can find to put our national security at risk. As a former cyber intelligence officer, I’ve witnessed firsthand that these attacks don’t happen on a traditional battlefield. Increasingly often, they come in the form of cyberattacks, which is why we must ensure our country’s digital security is defended.
Attacks in Iowa have targeted a food processing facility in Ottumwa, a grain co-op in Fort Dodge, and even the Des Moines public schools. These attacks have left students out of school for days and put our food supply at risk.
That’s why, today, I voted to strengthen our cybersecurity by ensuring the best of the best are protecting our country in cybersecurity roles. Our bill would:
- Direct the government to hire cybersecurity professionals based on their skills and competency, rather than arbitrary criteria designed by bureaucrats in DC.
- Modernize recruiting procedures to identify and secure the best talent from across the country, rather than taking a DC-centric approach that diminishes innovation.
Beyond this bill, I’m working to protect Americans from future attacks, including:
- Keeping students in school by preventing and preparing for attacks with the bipartisan Enhancing K-12 Cybersecurity Act
- Ensuring our rural water systems are safe from bad actors with the bipartisan Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act
- Increasing collaboration within the federal government and intelligence agencies to combat cyberterrorism with the Financial Technology Protection Act
- Protecting our nation’s food supply against foreign adversaries with the bipartisan Cybersecurity in Agriculture Act
Just one attack on our water supply, farm land, or electric grid could cripple our nation, which is why I’m leading these efforts to keep our country safe.