WASHINGTON, D.C.— Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today issued the following statement after Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta warned of the threats facing the nation's critical infrastructure in a speech Thursday night.
“National security leaders across the spectrum have urged Congress to act," said Rockefeller. "The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Commanding General of Cyber Command urged us to act. In August, Senate Republicans and beltway lobbyists chose a filibuster over these Generals’ urgent requests. Now the Secretary of Defense is urging us again to do what we all know we must do to protect our country from cyber terrorists. This is a time for action, not more political obstruction.”
Rockefeller cosponsored legislation, along with Senators Joe Lieberman, Susan Collins, Dianne Feinstein, and Tom Carper, that would provide incentives to companies that implemented voluntary standards to protect our most critical infrastructure, like water plants, public transportation, power grids, and financial systems.
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