Washington D.C. - Today, Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) released the following statement on the global ransomware attack believed to be carried out by Russian-linked REvil gang.
“This is believed to be the largest ransomware attack in history. It’s the latest in a string of unprecedented attacks on our critical infrastructure. Nearly all of the companies affected were small businesses, a sector already hit hard by economic shutdowns during the pandemic. While we push for more information about the scope of this attack, the Biden-Harris administration and Congress must do more to address cyber threats from Russia.
“As these attacks become more sophisticated, crippling, and widespread, we must take action and ensure we have the knowledge and tools to respond to cyber threats, especially to protect America’s critical infrastructure and supply chains. From energy to health care to our communications networks, every sector of our economy can be a target. The Energy and Commerce Committee has done extensive work to prevent and mitigate cyber threats, including the recent bipartisan Pipeline and LNG Facility Cybersecurity Preparedness Act to strengthen our critical energy infrastructure against attacks. We have also extended the FTC’s SAFEWEB Act to facilitate international enforcement cooperation. To enhance our preparedness, we should build on this work and make sure expert agencies are empowered to combat bad actors and protect our critical infrastructure."
