May 23, 2012
Dear Mr. MaddMedic:
Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (H.R 3523). I appreciate learning of your views.
Every day, Americans are targeted by nation-state actors like China and Russia for cyber exploitation and theft, resulting in huge losses of valuable intellectual property and sensitive information. These attacks ultimately cost American jobs. This legislation will enable voluntary cyber threat sharing and provide clear authority for the private sector to defend its own networks, all while providing strong protections for privacy and civil liberties. This bipartisan legislation was developed by the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in close consultation with a broad range of private sector companies, trade groups, privacy and civil liberties advocates.
I should point out that under H.R. 3523, any sharing of information is completely voluntary, and limited to the data associated with cyber threats. Additionally, this legislation does not provide any authority or levy to block access to accounts or websites, or to remove content. The bill’s authority is limited to the identification, obtaining, and sharing of cyber threat information. Finally, H.R. 3523 includes an anti-tasking provision that explicitly prohibits the government from conditioning its sharing of cyber threat intelligence on the sharing of private sector information with the government. I supported this legislation when it passed the House of Representatives and it is now before the U.S. Senate.
I support legislation that maintains the freedom of expression and liberties provided by our Constitution. While we disagree on this issue, I appreciate you taking the time to contact me. Please feel free to do so again on any matter of concern to you.
Sincerely,
JOHN KLINE
Member of Congress
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