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IEEE-USA Endorses Senate Bills
on Homeland Security

Washington (24 April 2002) — In testimony today before a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space on homeland security and technology, IEEE-USA endorsed two Senate bills designed to provide a coordinated technology response in the event of a major emergency, and strengthen our nation's security against computer attacks.

Ron Hira, chair of the IEEE-USA Research and Development Policy Committee, testified in support of S. 2182, the Cyber Security Research and Development Act. IEEE-USA previously backed a companion bill (H.R. 3394), which passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 400-12 on 7 February 2002. The cyber security bills would create new research and education programs to address the nation's extraordinary vulnerability to attacks upon computer systems and networks, and the critical national infrastructures that rely upon them (e.g., water systems and electricity grids).

IEEE-USA believes the Act will pay dividends not only for protection against cyber terrorism, but for commerce and personal privacy as well. "In order to advance the state of the art and the state of the market, we need to advance the state of the science in cyber security," Hira said before the Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. "IEEE-USA is pleased to support S. 2182."

IEEE-USA also endorsed the objectives of S. 2037, the Science and Technology Emergency Mobilization Act. The purpose of the Act "is to mobilize America's extensive capability in technology and science in responding" to terrorist attacks and other major emergencies.

"The concept of organizing to focus the nation's technology resources to address the response to terrorist attacks and other emergencies is an important ingredient in a robust homeland defense," Hira said. "The challenge, however, is in coordinating the response, finding the necessary experts and supplies, and getting them into place as quickly as possible."

Hira's testimony can be accessed at http://www.ieeeusa.org/forum/policy/02april24.html.

IEEE-USA is an organizational unit of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers created in 1973 to promote the careers and public-policy interests of the more than 235,000 electrical, electronics, computer and software engineers who are U.S. members of the IEEE. The IEEE is the world's largest technical professional society. For more information, go to http://www.ieeeusa.org.

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Last Updated: 24 April 2002
Staff Contact:  Chris McManes, c.mcmanes@ieee.org