The House Homeland Security Committee has approved the bipartisan PILLAR Act, a bill led by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Columbia), aimed at strengthening cybersecurity measures for states and local communities.
Rep. Ogles emphasized the importance of the legislation, stating, “Cybersecurity is national security. The PILLAR Act puts America First by giving our states and communities the tools they need to defend against foreign cyber threats,” he said. “With this legislation, there is no doubt that America will be ready for cyber warfare.”
Chairman Andrew Garbarino highlighted the growing threat posed by foreign actors targeting local governments. He said: “As state and local governments across the country face heightened cyberattacks from sophisticated nation-state adversaries, I was proud to help advance through the House Homeland Security Committee Rep. Ogles’ legislation to reauthorize and enhance the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. The federal government must empower our communities to shore up their cyber defenses, particularly the small towns, tribal lands, or territories that often lack the resources to invest in cybersecurity on their own. Our communities have made great strides in cyber resilience since the program began, and we must preserve these resources to maintain our collective defense.”
The bill has bipartisan support with cosponsors including Rep. Gabe Evans [CO-08], Rep. Andrew Garbarino [NY-02], and Rep. Eric Swalwell [CA-14].
