White House Readies Major Cybersecurity Bill

The White House on Thursday will issue its blueprint for comprehensive cybersecurity legislation that an administration official says strikes a critical balance between strengthening security, preserving privacy and civil liberties protection and fostering continued economic growth.

"The administration is eager to work with Congress to enact a cybersecurity bill this year, and we look forward to the broader discussion that Congress will hold with industry, privacy advocates and the wider community," the administration official said in a statement.

The White House has come under some criticism for not being more aggressive in developing new laws in protecting the IT infrastructures of the government and critical businesses such as banking, energy and transportation. The administration said the new proposal should put to rest that criticism.

"This proposal is the culmination of a lot of steady, serious operational progress over the last 2½ years," the official said. "By introducing the first major cybersecurity legislative proposal for any administration, we are demonstrating President Obama's commitment to addressing complex and systemic national vulnerabilities that place the American people and economy at risk." Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., welcomed the president's proposal, especially the provisions to establish a national standard for data breach notification and new tools to combat cybercrime.