Bipartisan Senate bill seeks to create framework for harmonizing federal cybersecurity laws

Senators Gary Peters, D-Mich., and James Lankford, R-Okla., have introduced a bipartisan bill that would establish an interagency committee within the Office of the Director of National Cybersecurity to develop a framework for harmonizing cybersecurity and information security regulations and compliance requirements across the federal government.

As reported by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Streamlining Federal Cybersecurity Regulations Act is intended to create a pilot program that will allow the legal framework to be tested for similar regulations.

The proposed measure would also require all agencies to consult with the harmonization committee at the ONCD before publishing or updating regulations.

“To effectively combat the threat of cyberattacks, federal agencies must implement comprehensive, coordinated cyberthreat regulations,” said Peters, the Senate committee chairman.

“My bill would harmonize federal cybersecurity laws to ensure that our government and regulators work together to most effectively address cybersecurity threats,” he added.