REP. OGLES’ PILLAR ACT AND H.R. 2659 PASS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Andy Ogles announced the House passage of two major cybersecurity measures, "H.R. 2659" and the "Protecting Information by Local Leaders for Agency Resilience Act," known as the PILLAR Act. H.R. 2659 enhances the federal government’s ability to identify and counter state-sponsored cyber operations by improving coordination across national security agencies. The PILLAR Act strengthens long-term support for state and local cybersecurity needs, directing one billion dollars toward upgrading networks and improving resilience in communities that often lack the resources to keep up with evolving cyber threats. Together, these bills give federal, state, and local partners a stronger, more unified defense posture against the growing wave of foreign cyber aggression.
“I am honored that H.R. 2659 and the PILLAR Act have passed the House and are now on their way to the Senate. H.R. 2659 takes direct aim at the Chinese Communist Party’s state-sponsored cyber operations by creating a coordinated federal task force to confront actors like Volt Typhoon. The PILLAR Act locks in long-term support for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program so American communities are not left defenseless when foreign adversaries probe their systems. said Congressman Ogles.
“I want to thank House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew Garbarino for his leadership and partnership on this mission. President Trump has called for unmatched American strength in every arena of modern warfare. With these bills, we bring that vision to reality. I urge my Senate colleagues to take up these bills as soon as possible so we can begin to fortify our nation from cyber threats,” Congressman Ogles said.
On the “PILLAR Act,” Chairman Garbarino said:
“As sophisticated nation-state adversaries and criminals target our nation’s critical infrastructure and government agencies in cyberspace, it is essential that states and localities have the necessary tools to protect the networks our communities rely on. The PILLAR Act continues and improves the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, which provides vital resources to bolster our local cyber defenses. We have seen success through efforts such as deploying student-led regional security operations centers in partnership with community colleges to train local cyber talent and providing shared services across the state for endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities, multi-factor authentication, and cybersecurity training, just to name a few. I am grateful that the House has passed Congressman Ogles’ bill to continue supporting proactive cyber resilience efforts across the country, while also enhancing this program to ensure it can continue doing so effectively for years to come.”
On the “Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act,” Chairman Garbarino said:
“Now more than ever, it’s critical for the federal government to take a proactive, whole-of-government approach to countering escalating cyber threats from the Chinese Communist Party. I’m pleased the House passed Representative Ogles’ bill to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure by improving interagency coordination efforts to detect, prevent, and prepare for cyber threats posed by our greatest geopolitical adversary. As threats in cyberspace evolve rapidly, I urge the Senate to help send this legislation to President Trump’s desk without delay.”
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