07.12.17

Durbin, Klobuchar, Cardin, Reed Introduce Legislation To Prevent Creation Of Cybersecurity Unit With Russia

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Jack Reed (D-RI) today introduced legislation to prevent the creation of a cybersecurity unit with Russia. The legislation follows the suggestion from President Trump that the United States should partner with President Vladimir Putin of Russia on a joint cybersecurity unit. The No Funds for Cyber Coordination with Russia Act of 2017 says that the President should publicly accepts U.S. intelligence findings that Russia interfered in the last election and that he should work with Congress to establish a non-partisan, independent commission to investigate Russian interference. 

“For the President of the United States to suggest – in a tweet nonetheless – that we would work together on cyber security with the dictator and former KGB agent who launched a cyber act of war against the American people and who has been trying to penetrate our nuclear and other energy sectors is absolutely absurd.  Instead, Congress and the White House should be working together to enact measures and provide assistance to states to help them protect against any future attacks on their election infrastructure.  Congress must stand united against this idea to potentially walk Russia right into our voter files,” said Durbin.  

Durbin, Klobuchar, and seven other senators recently introduced legislation to improve the security of U.S. election systems and make commonsense improvements to election administration. The Helping State and Local Governments Prevent Cyber Attacks Act, or HACK Act, would help combat foreign interference by providing state and local governments with information and resources they need to keep our elections secure and improve voter confidence.

Durbin and Klobuchar have also called for hearings and briefings on foreign attempts to hack into U.S. election systems and improving cybersecurity and asked for a full account of the Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) efforts to address Russian cybersecurity threats.