The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act by a vote of 422 to 5.

The bill is aimed at improving cybersecurity within the federal government as well as the public and private sectors by helping to develop a skilled cybersecurity workforce along with coordinating and prioritizing federal research and development.

The bill also seeks to improve the transfer of cyber security technologies to the marketplace and promote cybersecurity education for the public.

"The Internet does not stop at our borders; the consequences of poor cybersecurity measures can greatly impact our national security and economy," said bill cosponsor and Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN).

"Improving cybersecurity will require a collaborative effort both domestically and internationally. H.R. 4061 accomplishes this by coordinating U.S. representation in the development of international cybersecurity technical standards and best practices and by creating a strategic vision for federal cybersecurity R&D."

The bill reauthorizes a number of National Science Foundation cyber security programs, providing $396 million in research grants over the next four years and offering $94 million in cyber security scholarships.

The bill would also require the Administration to conduct an assessment of cybersecurity workforce needs across federal agencies. In addition the bill requires the Administration’s Office of Science and Technology Policy Director to put together a university task force to find new models for putting in place collaborative R&D.

"H.R. 4061 is a good bipartisan bill that strengthens public-private partnerships, ensures an overall vision for the federal cybersecurity R&D portfolio, trains the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, and improves cybersecurity technical standards," added Gordon.

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