Joe Lieberman urges President Obama to issue an executive order aimed at cybersecurity
Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman (I) sent a letter to President Obama Monday urging the Commander-in- Chief to “use the full extent” of his executive powers to secure U.S. computer networks from cyberattacks.
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Lieberman made his request because of gridlock in the Senate noting, “the presence of a real and imminent threat”.
“Gridlock threatens to prevent the Senate from passing a cyber bill before the end of this Congress,” Lieberman wrote. “Therefore, I urge you to use your executive authority to the maximum extent possible to defend the nation from cyber attack.”
Lieberman says in the Sept. 24 letter, “We know our adversaries are already stealing valuable intellectual property and exploiting our critical infrastructure – those systems that control our water, electricity, transportation, finance, and communications systems – to prepare for attack.”
Lieberman is the sponsor of the bill, S. 3414, the Cybersecurity Act of 2012, which was derailed in the Senate.
He closes out his letter saying:
“Of course, I hope and prefer that the Senate passes cybersecurity legislation and works with the House to get a bill to your desk before the end of this session. Though it is hard to be optimistic about the prospects of passing legislation in the lame duck session, I continue to work with my colleagues to find a bipartisan and bicameral compromise.”
But our nation’s security interests cannot be left inadequately protected because of special interest pressure. Therefore, I urge you to use the full extent of your authorities under the Constitution and those already given to you by Congress to protect the nation from the real and growing threat of cyber attack.”
