Panetta ‘Disappointed’ as Cyber Legislation Stalls

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2012 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is “disappointed” that an effort to move pending cybersecurity legislation forward failed in the Senate yesterday, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said.

Little, traveling with Panetta in the Asia-Pacific region, issued a statement after the Senate rejected by a 51-47 vote a procedural motion by Sens. Joseph Lieberman and Susan Collins to move the legislation forward.

“Secretary Panetta was disappointed to learn that the Senate failed to move forward on the Cybersecurity Act of 2012, which would have enhanced our nation's ability to protect itself against cyber threats, which are growing at an alarming rate,” Little said.

Cyberattacks threaten to have crippling effects on America's critical infrastructure and its government and private-sector systems, he added.

“The U.S. defense strategy calls for greater investments in cybersecurity measures, and we will continue to explore ways to defend the nation against cyber threats,” Little said. “New legislation would have enhanced those efforts. If the Congress neglects to address this security problem urgently, the consequences could be devastating.”