Bennet, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Amendment to Strengthen Cybersecurity

Washington, D.C. - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and a bipartisan group of Senators introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 that directs the President to elevate U.S. Cyber Command to a Combatant Command. U.S. Cyber Command it is currently a subordinate unit to U.S. Strategic Command.

The bipartisan amendment will elevate the command so it can respond to one of the fastest growing threats facing our nation and ensures that Cyber Command is a national commitment receiving sufficient support to complete the ever-expanding cyber missions our warfighters face.

"Cyber threats are evolving and increasing, and we must ensure that our military remains vigilant and agile in cyberspace," Bennet said. "This amendment recognizes the serious and growing threat of cyber war and takes important steps to boost our cyber defense and give our warfighters the resources and capabilities they need to fight. Elevating CYBERCOM sends a clear message that we will be ready to fight any and all cyber attacks."

The amendment is sponsored by Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

The amendment is similar to one in the in the House version of the NDAA and requires the President, with the advice and assistance of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, through the Secretary of Defense, to establish a unified combatant command for cyber operations forces responsible for assigned cyber missions.