The House Boosts Cybersecurity Startups

Cyber threats to our personal information, trade secrets, and government data are growing in consistency and complexity. Unfortunately, our government’s security apparatus is increasingly out-of-date with the nature of these threats, creating risks for all Americans – as recent hacks in the Internet Revenue Service and the Office of Personnel Management demonstrate.

We need new tools to defend our country on this emerging battlefield. We have also learned that the government is simply not equipped to develop those resources themselves.

Today, as a part of the Innovation Initiative, the House acted to boost integration between private cybersecurity startups and the federal government by passing two important pieces of legislation. 

H.R. 5388, Support for Rapid Innovation Act of 2016 and H.R. 5389, Leveraging Emerging Technologies Act of 2016 are targeted steps to harness innovation for the benefit of our nation’s security. 

The Leveraging Emerging Technologies Act requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to pro-actively engage with cybersecurity startups to develop strategies that will break down the barriers startups face when entering this market – including pitch opportunities outside of Washington, D.C. and ensuring emerging technologies can be included in current and future acquisition contracts.  

The Support for Rapid Innovation Act provides DHS with the flexibility to offer non-traditional contractors (in this case, startups) the opportunity to more easily work with the Department. If there is a product that meets project needs or can diffuse real-time threats, its procurement can be fast-tracked.

Across the country, individuals and companies are developing technology that can keep us one step ahead of our adversaries. Today’s legislation helps ensure that our country can benefit from the innovative approaches startups develop to protect our security. 

This week I walked into an old brewery in Baltimore, Maryland that is now home to a startup on the front lines of cyber defense. ZeroFOX is an example of the kind of startup company that brings talented people together to develop new solutions. In what was once an abandoned building, they now employ over a hundred people – helping to revitalize the entire community. This type of innovation has always served as the foundation of our nation’s prosperity.

As we continue to enter the digital economy, cybersecurity will become an ever-increasing priority for keeping our nation safe and secure. This is why the House remains committed toward passing legislation that will help the government embrace new technology that our private economy is leading.