[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CORRECTION OF H.R. 5823

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 2020

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, an error occurred when 
the House passed H.R. 5823, the ``State and Local Cybersecurity 
Improvement Act,'' as amended on September 30, 2020. The text of the 
bill that passed the House failed to represent an amendment offered by 
the gentlelady from Michigan, Congresswoman Slotkin, that was adopted 
on a bipartisan basis by the Full Committee on Homeland Security on 
February 12, 2020. The amendment, which was agreed to by unanimous 
consent, allowed for cooperative programs developed by groups of local 
governments and for State programs to support local governments and 
critical infrastructure owners and operators in addressing 
cybersecurity risks and threats to be included in the state's 
cybersecurity plan and thus be eligible for grant funding. At this 
juncture, with the measure pending with the Senate, I stand committed 
to restoring the erroneously omitted language in any House-Senate 
negotiations. Furthermore, should the 116th Congress close without the 
bill being enacted into law, I am committed to bringing the bill to the 
floor again in the next Congress with this important language. I want 
to commend my colleague for her contributions to the bill and to the 
Committee on Homeland Security. I have included the text of the 
amendment as approved by the Committee.


                   offered by ms. slotkin of michigan

       Page 6, beginning line 10, insert the following:
       (2) Discretionary Elements.--The Cybersecurity Plan of a 
     State described in paragraph (1) may include--
       (A) cooperative programs developed by groups of local, 
     Tribal, and territorial governments within such State to 
     address cybersecurity risks and cybersecurity threats; and
       (B) programs provided by such State to support local, 
     Tribal, and territorial governments and critical 
     infrastructure owners and operators to address cybersecurity 
     risks and cybersecurity threats.

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