WASHINGTON, D.C. –– Today, HouseCommittee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) announced Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) will serve as chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection for the 119th Congress:

“I am proud to announce Congressman Ogles will lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee moving forward, a role that is vital to the Committee’s efforts to protect the resilience of our federal civilian networks and the critical infrastructure that Americans rely on,” Chairman Garbarino said. “At a time when our nation faces unprecedented cyber threats from sophisticated adversaries, Congressman Ogles is already leading legislation to reauthorize and enhance the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program and create a whole-of-government effort to defend against cyber threats from the Chinese Communist Party. As the Committee continues to work with the Trump administration to refocus CISA back to its core mission, Congressman Ogles’ leadership and vision will be instrumental in guiding that effort. As the former chairman of this subcommittee, I know he will continue that mission with strength and clarity as we work together to secure America’s cyber future.”

“American national security rests on secured cyber infrastructure. As chairman of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, I vow to leverage every federal asset to fortify the cyber capabilities of every American city,” Subcommittee Chairman Ogles said. “I vow to hold accountable the hackers, doxxers, and cyber terrorists waging war against our land. America First cybersecurity is my mission, and I will not waver. Thank you to Chairman Garbarino for the appointment and for trusting me to carry this mantle forward.”

BACKGROUND:

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee maintains oversight of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the cybersecurity missions and operations of other DHS components. The Subcommittee focuses on: protecting federal networks; strengthening critical infrastructure security and resilience; and advancing cooperation between the federal government and non-federal owners and operators of the critical infrastructure that underpins our national security, economy, and way of life.

In September, the Committee advanced Rep. Ogles’ legislation, H.R. 5078, the “Protecting Information by Local Leaders for Agency Resilience Act,” or PILLAR Act, in a bipartisan vote. The bill would reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security’s State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program (SLCGP), which provides grants to state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to address cybersecurity risks and threats to information systems and operational technology systems, including those using artificial intelligence.

In April, the Committee also advanced Rep. Ogles’ legislation, H.R. 2659, the “Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act,” which would require the federal government to assess and mitigate growing cyber threats to U.S. critical infrastructure originating in China with either the active or tacit support of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Chairman Garbarino is a cosponsor of both pieces of legislation.

The House of Representatives passed both bills yesterday.

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