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“THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1621 on Sept. 17, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION
ACT
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HON. BOB GOODLATTE
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, September 17, 1996
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing crime legislation which will bring out criminal code into the computer age. The NII Protection Act, would strengthen the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, 18 U.S.C. 1030, by closing gaps in the law to better safeguard the confidentiality, integrity and security of computer data and networks. The Senate companion to this legislation, S. 982, has already cleared the Senate and now the House must act to send this legislation to the President's desk.
With all the benefits created by the explosion of computer networks comes a very serious concern--networked computers also provide new opportunities for criminal activity. The Computer Emergency Response Team, known as CERT, based at the Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh reports that the number of reported intrusions into U.S. based computer systems rose from 773 in 1992 to more than 2,300 by 1994--a 197-percent increase in 2 years. Additionally, CERT reported the number of sites attacked rose more than 89 percent during the same period.
Once into a computer system, hackers have the ability to steal, modify, or destroy sensitive data--thus the potential costs to users, including businesses, are staggering.
That is why the Justice Department and the FBI support this important legislation. It will help stem the on-line crime epidemic and increase protection for both Government and private computers.
The NII Protection Act improves the current Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by providing additional protection for computerized information and systems, by designating new computer crimes, and by extending protection to computer systems used in foreign or interstate commerce or communications.
Current law falls short of protecting our Nation's infrastructure which increasingly relies on computer systems. Although financial institutions and consumer reporting agencies are currently protected under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, this bill closes a number of loopholes in the criminal code which allow other industries to fall victims to computer crimes.
Since hacker activities generally do not cross State lines they are not Federal offenses. The NII Protection Act would extend coverage under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act to any computer used in interstate or foreign commerce or communications and thus, would strengthen Federal law enforcement's ability to fight this type of criminal activity.
The bill would allow Federal prosecution of all those who misuse computers to obtain Government information and, where appropriate, information held by the private sector. The harshest penalties would be reserved for those who obtain classified information that could be used to injure the United States or assist a foreign state. Those who break into a computer system, or insiders who intentionally abuse their computer access privileges, to steal information from a computer system for commercial advantage, private financial gain or to commit any criminal or tortious act would also be subject to felony prosecution. Individuals who intentionally break into, or abuse their authority to use, a computer and thereby obtain information of minimal value, would be subject to a misdemeanor penalty.
The bill would also penalize any person who uses a computer to cause the transmission of a computer virus or other harmful computer program to Government and financial institution computers not used in interstate communications, such as intrastate local area networks used by Government agencies that contain sensitive and confidential information. Computers used in foreign communications or commerce would also be covered.
Outside hackers who break into a computer could be punished for any intentional, reckless, or negligent damages they cause. The bill also punishes modern-day extortionists who threaten to harm or shut down computer networks unless their demands are satisfied.
The NII Protection Act would provide much needed protection for our Nation's important information infrastructure and help maintain the privacy of electronic information. I urge quick action on this important legislation.
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