Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Ranking Member Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today issued the following statement after the Committee’s field hearing titled, “The Role of Small Businesses in Strengthening Cybersecurity Efforts in the United States,” which was held in Laurel, Maryland:

“As a senior member of both the Senate Intelligence and Commerce Committees and Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee, I have worked tirelessly with my colleagues in the Senate, House and the Administration to swiftly pass comprehensive cybersecurity legislation, and I will continue those efforts until the job is done.  Simply put, further delay compromises our ability to better protect Americans against cyber intrusions and attacks that target our financial, commercial, transportation and communications sectors.  Within that framework, it is critical that the public-private partnership is modernized, and the roles and responsibilities for sharing information regarding threats and vulnerabilities, and mitigations, particularly with small businesses, is clarified.  I commend Senator Cardin for holding today’s hearing to raise awareness of cybersecurity issues and explore ways to improve how small businesses defend their information networks.”

Last Congress, Senator Snowe introduced legislation with Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W. Va.) to address our nation’s vulnerability to cyber crime, global cyber espionage, and cyber attacks that could potentially cripple the United States’ critical infrastructure.  Their bill, the Cybersecurity Act of 2010 (S. 773), passed the Senate Commerce Committee by voice vote on March 24, 2010, but the full Senate never considered the measure.  Senator Snowe also served as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee Cyber Task Force.