A spate of cybersecurity bills have stalled in Congress, but one lawmaker thinks he has found a way to move forward on regulations. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) has proposed attaching two cybersecurity amendments to the defense bill in the House.

The first would set up a White House office to coordinate agencies’ responses to cyber threats. A similar measure passed the House two years ago but died in the Senate.

The second amendment would set minimum cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure like power grids and water systems.

“During debates over defense funding, I hear repeatedly that cuts to military programs — even insufficient increases — pose an unacceptable risk,” Langevin said in a press release. “Yet without these amendments we are ignoring key aspects of what is fast becoming the biggest threat to our security. This House has already demonstrated that cybersecurity can be a bipartisan issue…let’s do so again.”


Langevin helped to start the bipartisan Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily Cybersecurity Update. For more cybersecurity news,