WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the introduction of an updated version of cybersecurity legislation by Senators Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
“The enhanced protection of our digital infrastructure is an urgent national security priority, just as is the preservation of the very civil liberties that our security efforts are meant to protect. Privacy and security need not be mutually exclusive when it comes to our nation’s cybersecurity. I have always believed we can and should be able to protect Americans' civil liberties without compromising the ability of private entities to protect themselves and their users. We can give the private sector the tools to make our country safe and strong.
“For months I have worked with several of my colleagues on language that strikes a better balance than what was proposed in earlier drafts of the legislation, which would have enabled greater information sharing, but at too significant a cost to personal privacy. Senators Lieberman and Collins have worked with us with in earnest to find a better balance, and with the version introduced today, S.3414, I believe we have found it.
“I applaud Senator Reid for making it possible for the Senate to take up this important legislation. If we do not act, we are leaving our country wide open to attack. That cannot be allowed.”