Politics & Government

U.S. House Passes Connolly Amendment to Protect Civil Liberties in Cyber-Threat Intelligence-Gathering

Amendment to CISPA bill safeguards civil liberties and ensures strong congressional oversight of federal government's cyber security efforts.

The U.S. House Wednesday unanimously passed an amendment authored by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11th) that protects privacy and safeguards civil liberties by limiting the authority of federal government intelligence operations to share classified cyber threat intelligence with private-sector entities and utilities, according to a news release from the congressman's office.

Connolly’s amendment to the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) also ensures appropriate congressional oversight of cybersecurity activities.  The amendment, which passed the House by a vote of 418-0, was supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and others concerned with individual privacy rights.

Speaking on the House floor, Connolly said, “I believe it is a false choice that we must somehow choose between effective cybersecurity initiatives and preserving the sacred civil liberties and privacy rights that we hold dear as a nation.”  The Connolly amendment represented a straightforward improvement to CISPA that enhances cybersecurity, while safeguarding privacy rights and civil liberties.  It also increases oversight of cybersecurity activities.

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The passage of Connolly’s amendment Wednesday marked the second time in two days where the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass Connolly legislation concerning cybersecurity. 

On Tuesday, the House passed the Federal Information Security Amendments Act of 2013, authored by Connolly and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Government Operations Subcommittee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.). Connolly is Ranking Member of the Government Operations Subcommittee.

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