Protect US Food Supply Chain: New Legislation Seeks To Protect Nation’s Food Supply From Cyber Attacks, Security Issues
GILLIBRAND, COTTON, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS CYBERSECURITY THREATS TO AMERICAN AGRICULTURE
From the editor: According to the text of the bill, these activities will be allocated one million dollars in the fiscal year budgets for each of 2024 and 2025. Please check back over the next few days for answers to the following questions, which have been submitted to the senator’s office:
Thanks for your questions! Here’s some info on background:
Q-How was the $1 Million budget amount arrived at? Was this based on an investigation into the cost of each of these activities, or is it an estimate?
A-The lead sponsor, Senator Cotton, conducted preliminary conversations with groups and stakeholders in this space and reached this estimation. We’re still waiting on technical assistance from various agencies so the number may change.
Q-Will participating entities named in the release be compensated for their time and efforts, and will smaller farmers be encouraged (or prioritized) to contribute to this program?
A-Participating entities will not be compensated, but they will get the benefit of participating in a simulation without the usual associated costs. USDA and CISA will determine how to prioritize participants, which may be a combination of different groups in the sector, based on risk profile and other factors still to be determined.
Q-Will there be costs for engaging in the programs to farmers? If so, what will be the cost to farmers to participate, if applicable, and will they be compensated?
A-Farmers will not have to pay for this program to participate, but they will not be compensated. Participation is also voluntary.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act, legislation that would strengthen cybersecurity protecting the agriculture and food-critical infrastructure sectors. The bill will identify vulnerabilities and improve protective measures of both the government and private groups against cyber threats.
Cosponsoring the legislation are Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Katie Britt (R-AL), John Barrasso (R-WY), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Mike Rounds (R-SD). Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) and Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (MI-07) are introducing companion legislation in the House.
Bill text may be found here.
“Protecting our nation’s farms and food security against cyberattacks is a vital component of our national security,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act is a crucial step toward preparing our nation’s agriculture sector to respond to potential cyberattacks. I am committed to ensuring our American agriculture sector is ready to defend against these cyber threats, and look forward to working with my colleagues to get this important bill passed.”
“America’s adversaries are seeking to gain any advantage they can against us—including targeting critical industries like agriculture. Congress must work with the Department of Agriculture to identify and defeat these cybersecurity vulnerabilities. This legislation will ensure we are prepared to protect the supply chains our farmers and all Americans rely on,” said Senator Cotton.
“Food and farm security is national security,” said Congressman Finstad. “With growing threats at home and abroad, it is increasingly important that we ensure our nation’s agriculture sector and food supply chain remain secure. I am proud to join Rep. Slotkin and Senator Cotton in introducing the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act, which will provide us with a greater understanding of the susceptibility of our country’s food supply to cyber-attacks, and more importantly, help us prevent these attacks from occurring in the future.”
“Food security is national security, so it’s critical that American agriculture is protected from cyber threats,” said Congresswoman Slotkin. “No longer just some tech issue, cyber attacks have the potential to upend folks’ daily lives and threaten our food supply – like we saw a couple years ago when the meat-packing company JBS was taken offline by a ransomware attack. This legislation will require the Department of Agriculture to work closely with our national security agencies to ensure that adversaries like China can’t threaten our ability to feed ourselves by ourselves.”
The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act would:
- Direct the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, to conduct a study every two years of the cybersecurity threat to, and vulnerabilities in, the agriculture and food sectors, and submit a report to Congress.
- Direct the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, as well as the Director of National Intelligence, to conduct an annual cross-sector crisis simulation exercise for food-related cyber emergencies or disruptions.
Supporting the legislation are the American Farm Bureau Federation, North American Millers Association, National Grain and Feed Association, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, USA Rice, Agricultural Retailers Association, American Sugar Alliance, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Banner Image: Modern farming. Image Credit – andystrauss
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