(June 17, 2016 – Jennifer Ortega) On June 9, Paul Ryan, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, released a national security plan outlining current challenges and proposed principles to guide a national response. Developed as part of the Speaker's "A Better Way" [http://abetterway.speaker.gov/] policy agenda for House Republicans in advance of the 2016 elections, the plan joins others on poverty, health care, and the economy.
Much of the Speaker's national security proposal focuses on terrorism and veterans issues. However, the plan includes several provisions addressing cybersecurity, such as ways to improve the safety and security of the nation's data and critical infrastructure. Steps to encourage greater information sharing about cyber threats between the public and private sectors are also highlighted. In addition, the plan calls for improved federal government assistance to state, local, and private-sector entities regarding network security.
The Speaker's plan continues by identifying further expansion of broadband Internet access nationwide as a major priority. It also argues for the United States to maintain sufficient control of the Internet to protect against "continued efforts by dictators and authoritarian regimes to censor, intimidate, and control their citizens." For more details, please see http://abetterway.speaker.gov/.
Jen Ortega serves as a consultant to EDUCAUSE on federal policy and government relations. She has worked with EDUCAUSE since 2013 and assists with monitoring legislative and regulatory proposals across a range of policy areas, including cybersecurity, data privacy, e-learning, and accessibility.