Is There a Programmer in the House?

What happens if you let a computer programmer in the house? If that programmer is Nevada senator Jacky Rosen, a lot happens. In 2016 Nevada elected her to the U.S. House of Representatives and in 2018 to the U.S. Senate. As a trained computer professional she has been actively involved in numerous cyber security initiatives.

Most recently, in March of 2022, with Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), she introduced the Healthcare Cybersecurity Act, which would direct the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to collaborate with the Department of Health and Human Services on improving cybersecurity in the Health Care and Public Health Sector, one of the United States’ sixteen critical infrastructure sectors.

This followed the White House’s warning to American companies to take immediate action to harden their cyber defenses based on evolving intelligence that the Russian Government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks. According to a recent POLITICO analysis of HHS data released this week, nearly 50 million people in the U.S. had their sensitive health data breached in 2021, a threefold increase in just the last three years.

“In light of the threat of Russian cyberattacks, we must take proactive steps to enhance the cybersecurity of our healthcare and public health entities,” said Rosen. “Hospitals and health centers are part of our critical infrastructure and increasingly the targets of malicious cyberattacks, which can result in data breaches, the cost of care being driven up, and negative patient health outcomes.”

The bipartisan Healthcare Cybersecurity Act would:

• Require CISA and HHS to collaborate, including by entering into an agreement, to improve cybersecurity in the Healthcare and Public Health sector, as defined by CISA.
• Authorize cybersecurity training to Healthcare and Public Health sector asset owners and operators on cybersecurity risks and ways to mitigate them.
• Require CISA to conduct a detailed study on specific cybersecurity risks facing the Healthcare and Public Health Sector, including an analysis of how cybersecurity risks specifically impact health care assets, an evaluation of the challenges health care assets face in securing updated information systems, and an assessment of relevant cybersecurity workforce shortages.

The Healthcare Cybersecurity Act is now in committee. Rosen has also joined a bipartisan group of 22 senators in sending a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas requesting a briefing on what the department is doing to protect American cybersecurity from possible Russian attacks. She also introduced a bipartisan bill recently that would bolster the cybersecurity of the Department of Veterans Affairs and protect veterans’ information.

Creating a Cyber Ready Workforce

In February of 2022, with Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), she also introduced the Cyber Ready Workforce Act, which would direct the U.S. Department of Labor to award grants to increase access to registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity.

“The serious shortage of U.S. cybersecurity workers leaves our nation vulnerable to the increasing threat of cyberattacks,” she said. “I’m reintroducing this bipartisan legislation to help fill our cyber workforce gaps through a new grant program that will support registered apprenticeships and skills training in this critical field.”

Cyber security support for small businesses

And in 2021 she introduced legislation to help small organizations handle cyber-attacks saying: “Small organizations are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, and many of them lack the resources to manage complex cyber risks,” … This bipartisan and bicameral legislation will help protect our nation’s small businesses, nonprofits, and local governments from the growing threat of cyberattacks.”

Prior to running for elected office, Rosen worked as a computer programmer and software development consultant. She has a bachelor’s in psychology and an associate degree in computing and information technology. More at rosen.senate.gov.