Legislation that would require the Department of Homeland Security to produce annual reports on terrorist activity in the U.S., including cyber threats, cleared the House yesterday on a voice vote. The Homeland Threat Assessment Act (HR 2470) contains language already approved by the House as part of the DHS Authorization Act of 2017 (HR 2825), which cleared the House in July (TR Daily, July 20) but has not moved in the Senate.

HR 2470 would require DHS to assess a variety of terrorist threats, “including cyber threats, to the homeland, including to critical infrastructure and federal civilian networks.”

“By requiring the department to consider specific cyber, transportation, and border security threats, in addition to traditional terrorism threats, HR 2470 ensures that DHS will focus on critical mission areas where it can provide real value,” said Rep. Mike Gallagher (R., Wisc.), who spoke in favor of the bill on the House floor. —Tom Leithauser, tom.leithauser@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily