Langevin and others. The nation now is critical at the warning that we have in the decisions made that the most recent worldwide Us Intelligence community in january 2019 the United States and the world will remain for the next flu pandemi pandemic. Right . And then the international resources. We must ask ourselves what can we do right now to protect the American People. Before the unthinkable happens and then with the best of our day and then surely we are a nation or iran or north korea. In the report states and i quote our adversaries and strategic competitors make you want few critical legal on on economic and then with Economic Security with every aspect of ourct lives. And with the National Defense authorization act with the state of t cybersecurity to develop that nonpartisan division this commission. [inaudible] it is a structure and economic llstem to have widespread damage that im from both sides of the aisle to recognize for the white house to develop and then National Security advisor john bolton eliminated the post and then i had another layer of bureaucracy. We are the most cybersecurity nation and the world. In 2020 that dropped. Today weau will review from the Commission Recommendation with the executive office of the president. So in addition for the first time with the Statutory Authority the republican came but then the cyberattacks our nation but then there is that weird vehicle. I now recognize for your statement representative. Thank you chairwoman for holding this hearing to explore the very for those recommendations to experience it could be dispersed with jurisdictions across the government they are organized to defend the National Security intrusions and the needs of the private industries and commercial interest he and the reliance on technology and Information Systems is more important than ever with the pandemic forex u. Seeing organizations to pivot from a work from home posture. Foreign state actors and terroristic groups the remote operations that the pandemic they lived in malaysia are actors or river. These are the same who also targeted the private sector partners. Foreign governments have expose Sensitive Data empire to one prior to the personal data. Because of cybersecurity risk we must you are part to ensure that infrastructure the following state and local partners we could have a cyberthreat to help secure our infrastructure. We will hear from experts to navigate the cybersecurity environment they also have speed experience from damaging cyberattacksat of foreign places like china they have hacked into that r d and paid our professors wrong to welcome the young property in whole china accountable for these tactics and the deceptive tactics thats a great hearing. Today however we look forward to evaluating that proposal per policy planning and operations of the federal government to evaluate the legislative proposal we have a duty to the American People to be a good steward and not create more bureaucracy with a clear and convincing rationale requires Due Diligence in the current and projected landscape is complicated. While there have been more incidents over the past decade, recent attempts with those activities and platforms have been taken very seriously by Homeland Security within the Trump Administration doing what is expected of officials to prioritize those incidents wherever and wherever and i think we all want it to be effective. To this and it is imperative that congress in this committee fully evaluate the reasons why they have the statutory creation of the National Cyberdirector. The main questions are is it necessary to create another federal office to truly have someone in charge . If so what is the impact to make the decision that needs to be made . What everyone else fall in line and work in harmony . Have a piece of the pie so with that official are we legitimately creating will the National Cyberdirector of the expertise leadership in government . Or do we make it bigger and have duplicating functions . Willr infrastructure or should we alliance support systems and how this seven might be better. In a fluid environment with expertise is paramount we cannot afford it is and with that governments ability to have in real time. And was Strategic Planning and operation im pleased to be working with you on thisri issue but we need to be comfortable to limit i agree this recommendation and opportunity to hear from these expert witnesses. I yield back. Thank you. I have recognize mr. Bench for your Opening Statement and i thank you for convening hr 7731 has the National Cyberdirector which is an idea that is not only reasonable but necessary and long overdue in the world in which we live. I am well aware of the study over the years on this issue and has been nothing short and i think him and our friend and colleague for their bipartisan commitment to defend our cybersecurity but also thank you be to all those who were the original cosponsors. For years foreignpolicy and National Security expert we consider cyberto be the battlefield than anyone paying attention the future is already here. In 2014 hackers likely affiliated the Chinese Government breached the Information System of omb and then those the for for receive security clearances. We also well aware of russia sweeping efforts in 2016 to interfere in the president ial election and attempting to and with the fbi and the Cybersecurity Agency against the federal Government Agency and academic institutions during the Briefing Research is the common target as the intelligence agencies warned the system is blinking red and only two years ago the National Security advisor john bolton dismantled the position at the National Security cou chairwoman i is hscer i i am in a markup and have an amendment pending to jump out into backend. I apologize. I yield back. Your now recognized for an Opening Statement. Can you hear me . First of all its good to see you. Thank you. I appreciate this opportunity as rankingng Member NationalCommittee Oversight to address an issue with ramifications. Has addressed in the opening comments the series will stop at nothing of commercial expertise and sensitiveti information connecting both public and private sector organizations. Unfortunately despite the desire to play by the rules we have been treated unfairly by the chinese. Often times this Global Posture cost our valuable intellectual property coming out of the Nations Research institutions into chinese hands the hearing will help us determine if the government need support of the high state on highstakes cyberattacks and intrusions one proposal is the formation of a new National Labor director i appreciate the commissions desire to ensure the Cybersecurity Infrastructure is the onestop shop i wonder if we could be too quick to have a new bureaucracy were not carefully considering downside to the reform. Keep in mind the Trump Administration success protecting the last midterm elections and the strong stance against those who wish to take advantage of international attempts of the challenges of the pandemic. Would be doing a disservice to other agencies i want to keep an open mind on any proposal and i than protecting the nations infrastructure. I look forward to theti witness testimonywi with the National Cyberdirector with the framework to coordinate effective responses against our government and private sector. Thank youou chairman into my counterpart for all of your interest and i look forward to working with each of you against all types of threats. And those that wish to do americans harm. I yield back. I will now introduce the first panel of witnesses here in the house of representatives the congressman from rhode island in chairman of the emerging threats subcommittee of the House Armed Services committee has been working on these efforts for many years and a proud new father, congratulatios on becoming a father we are pleased to have you both here today. You are now recognize to provide your testimony. Iz good afternoon and distinguish members of the committee its humbling to sit on the side of the table when it is virtual i want to begin my remarks and i want to thank the chairwoman for convening the hearing and also to create a National Cyberdirector. I join you today as a representative and im proud to be joined by my colleague one of the cochairs of the commission and also congratulate him and also to his daughter grace i know youre coming off of Maternity Leave thank you for your work. In the 2019 National DefenseOrganization Act and they were charged with developing a consensus to defend the Unitedd States against cyberattacks. In our first meeting outside experts told us we were attempting the impossible trying to have a 9 11 commission without the precipitating event of the september 11 event. I reject that view believe if we come together in a nonpartisan fashion we can alter the trend we saw grow year after year. Commission recommendations, we could alter the trend that sees our cyber risk grow year after year. We could push back on our adversaries who see the cyber domain as the ultimate rain for operations in the gray zone short of war. We could seize the initiative and ensure that we are not left to wonder the day after an attack what more could we have done. So that is how i view the work of the cyberspace solarium that is the urgency i bring to the table, and moreso than any of the other 82 recommendations of the Commission Proposed and the National Cyber director is essential to seizing the initiative from our adversaries. It is essential, because cybersecurity permeates every aspect of our society and every aspect of our government. Every department and agency, from the department of agriculture to the department of veterans affairs, relies on secure Information Technology to conduct business. Yet, very few of them have cybersecurity as part of their mission, nor is it their primary focus. Because cybersecurity is difficult to measure, we end up with misaligned incentives. People skimp on cybersecurity, because they would invest on operational programs in their department. We need a strong leader in the white house to defeat the inertia that pushes down the role or until a devastating breach occurs. We need a strong cyber leader in the white house to coordinate strategy. Beyond Government Systems or national and Economic Security rely on Critical Infrastructure. Most of which is owned and operated by the private sector. Where once we could rely on two oceans and friendly neighbors to insolate us, today our banks and hospitals and power plants are on the front lines of shadow campaigns to undermine our way of life. Only within the white house could we break down agency silos to ensure that we have a whole of nation efforts to protect our networks. Finally, we need a National Cyber director in the white house to coordinate incident response. Were living through a Public Health crisis, the likes of which we have not seen in over a century. When our adversaries strike us in cyberspace, we must be prepared to defend early to stamp out the infections from computer viruses to quarantine Effective Networks an to inoculate uninfected machines by patching them. This is the only this is only possible with the National Cyber director. This idea, of course, is not new. I worked on it with the csi commission for the 44thpresidency in 2008. But as my friend mr. Gallagher has taken great pains to describe at length, the so larium process has a way of refining ones thinking. We debated the proposal extensively, and were very deliberate in our decision making. We chose an office in the white house, because only the white house could truly reach across departments and agencies to manage a risk so pervasive as cyber. We chose a senateconfirmed position, because congressional oversight and buyin is critical to the success of the office. We chose to preserve a coordinated rather than operational to the role because our cyber defenders need , advice. Madam chair just to conclude, there are some that argue that the National Cyber director is congressional overreach. There are those who say that the president is the ultimate arbiter of the executive office of the president and that congress has no business interfering in these article two affairs. Those people, respectfully, disregard history as congress has helped to guide white house structure in the past when the moment demanded it such as when krogs created the office of congress created the office of science and Technology Policy or the u. S. Trade representative. But more concerning to me are these people implicitly endorse the status quo and that scares me because every day i wake up and see our adversaries making gains in cyberspace. I saw it under president bush, i saw it under president obama, and i see it today under president trump. And president. Shaping norms that suit their interest on the international stage, striking at our partners and allies and attempting to undermine our elections. Agenda,me we set the wishing back on our competitors and shaping their behavior by improving our resilience and strengthening the cyber ecosystem. That, it haswith been one of the most rewarding expenses of my life. In normas dedication of our immensely talented staff are reflected in the bill that we are discussing today. It is an honor to have the opportunity extended before you and i look forward to answering any questions you may have. Much,nk you so congressman. Thank you for your leadership for the security of our nation. Mr. Gallagher. Thank you for the kind words about my newborn daughter. If i pass out during this hearing, it is because i am not only nervous to be on the wrong side of the hearing but because i have not had much sleep. We are truly blessed and i appreciate the kind words. Keep establishments to defend property or territory or rights abroad or at sea. We keep the Security Forces to defend a way of life. Andnow, emerging technology powered by stronger and more capable Digital Networks is being infused into every part of our government, economy and way of life. How we navigate the resulting opportunities and challenges will determine the effectiveness of our nation to deal with future cyber driven or cyber enabled contingencies. For the past 20 years, Commission Initiative studies and four president ial administrations have been challenged to define an Effective National level establishment for coordinating cyber strategy, possibly policy and operations. And i believe it is imperative that we have cyber office and Leaders Within the white house. What that position would entail was one of the most spirited and important debates we had over the course of the commission. And my colleague was absolutely incredible in his thought leadership and dedication. I learned a ton from him throughout. Due to jims leadership, we considered how to address the gap in leadership coordination, two, whether to recommend Senate Confirmation and the size, scope and structure of the authorities of the leadership office. We decided the federal government would be better equipped strengthening existing department and agency efforts, including the cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency, rather than the creation of a new department that many advocate for. Without a new agency, the commission deemed the cyber court nader permission position be essential to give the position to have a high enough level of prominence to effectively coordinate National Strategy and provide muchneeded leadership internationally, with state, local, tribal and territorial governments and the private sector. And in recognition of that, the need for better of cooperation, the chamber of commerce recognize the National Cyber director act. The commission spent an enormous amount of time weighing the pros and cons of this position and contemplating the stature of the position. We determined that requiring it to the senate to be Senate Confirmed, somewhere to the way u. S. Trade representative is Senate Confirmed would not only signal that congress is committe