The hearing, titled “Cyber Preparedness and Response at the Local Level,” will assess how state and local first responders prepare for, respond to and investigate cyber incidents. Additionally, the hearing will provide insight into training opportunities for state and local officials to bolster their cyber preparedness and response. It will take place at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 7 in the J.E. and L.E. MaBee Foundation Banquet Hall, Wright Campus Center, Austin College, 1301 E. Brockett, Sherman, TX, 75090.
Ratcliffe is chairing the hearing back home to help expose the prevalence of cyber incidents addressed every day by state and local first responders throughout the country.
“Cybersecurity isn’t just a national security issue – it’s a community issue. Cyber incidents are making up a growing portion of the challenges our state and local first responders face on a daily basis, and they need to be prepared for these evolving threats,” Ratcliffe said.
“It’s important to take a step away from Washington to adequately evaluate cyber preparedness through a local lens, and I’m holding my subcommittee hearing in Sherman to offer that opportunity to those in Congress who will be joining me in leading the charge on this important issue.”
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, expressed his support for Ratcliffe’s leadership on cybersecurity.
“I applaud Rep. Ratcliffe’s leadership on legislation to strengthen our efforts in cyberspace. Cyberattacks against the United States occur every minute of every hour of every day. We must redouble our efforts to ensure we properly protect our networks. Rep. Ratcliffe’s hard work on this important issue has been invaluable,” McCaul said.
Ratcliffe is chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies and formerly served as a federal law enforcement official. In 2015, his original legislation (H.R. 3490) passed the U.S. House of Representatives to help provide state and local law enforcement with the tools they need to fight cyber-crime. This year he’s continuing his focus on brining cybersecurity measures up to speed with the sophistication of cyber threats at both the national and local level.
