Cyber Essentials Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8223 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 promote evidence-based con- trols for defending against common cybersecurity threats and cybersecu- rity risks, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 Mr. KATKO (for himself, Mr. LANGEVIN, Ms. ESHOO, Miss RICE of New York, and Mr. GALLAGHER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 promote evi- dence-based controls for defending against common cy- bersecurity threats and cybersecurity risks, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Cyber Essentials Act’’. 4 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:38 Sep 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8223.IH H8223 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8223 IH SEC. 2. EVIDENCE-BASED CONTROLS FOR DEFENDING 1 AGAINST COMMON CYBERSECURITY 2 THREATS AND CYBERSECURITY RISKS. 3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (b) of section 2203 of 4 the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 653) is 5 amended— 6 (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 7 the semicolon at the end; 8 (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para- 9 graph (5); and 10 (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol- 11 lowing new paragraph: 12 ‘‘(4) in consultation with the National Institute 13 of Standards and Technology, develop, publish, and 14 update as necessary guidelines and processes for a 15 national audience regarding usable evidence-based 16 controls that have the most impact in defending 17 against common cybersecurity threats and cyberse- 18 curity risks; and’’. 19 (b) RESTRICTION.—Chapter 35 of title 44, United 20 States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Paperwork Reduc- 21 tion Act’’) shall not apply to any action to implement the 22 amendments made by this Act. 23 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:38 Sep 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8223.IH H8223 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS