The House of Representatives has passed two cybersecurity information sharing bills that will now be combined into one bill, according to Healthcare Info Security.
The Protecting Cyber Networks Act, born in the House Intelligence Committee, was passed April 22, and the National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act was passed April 23.
The Protecting Cyber Networks Act allows private companies to share cyber threat information and indicators with one another and voluntarily to the federal government. The National Cybersecurity Protection Advancement Act provides companies with legal protection if they share network information and security threat tips with the government.
This type of legislation is required because many businesses do not share information with the government out of fear of civil and criminal lawsuits that may result from sharing the data, according to the report.
"Ultimately, this legislation will arm those who protect our networks with valuable cyber threat indicator that they can use to fortify the bill's defenses against future attacks," said Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas), chairman of a House Homeland Security Committee subcommittee.
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