"Tech Talk" - A Weekly E-Newsletter about Technology, Innovation and Cyber Security for the Civilian and Military Sectors - July 27, 2021

Washington, D.C.
The countdown to August recess would begin if it were clear exactly when this work session will end. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has threatened to delay August recess while Congress negotiates two potential infrastructure packages, neither of which have been written.  The House is beginning floor consideration of as many as ten of twelve appropriations bills this week.  The way ahead for the Senate Appropriations Committee is still a bit unclear, but there is talk of marking up a handful of bills the first week of August.  The House Armed Services Committee begins marking up its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 National Defense Authorization Act this week after the Senate Armed Services Committee approved its version of the bill last week, releasing a 40-page executive summary at its conclusion. 

The Fight Against Cyberattacks and Ransomware
International cyber leaders are keeping an eye on potential cyber-attacks at the Olympic games in Tokyo, after reports Russian hackers targeted the last two Olympic games.  Amid a crisis of cyberattacks and increasing warnings about U.S. vulnerability, the Biden administration and Congress are taking steps to fight back. NATO condemned China's aggressive cyber behavior, last week, and publicly attributed the cyberattack on Microsoft Exchange Server to Beijing-linked hackers, marking the first time NATO has formally rebuked China for cyberattacks. On the same day, Norway formally attributed a breach of Norwegian parliament email accounts to Chinese hackers involved in the hack of Microsoft's Exchange Server. Meanwhile in Congress, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) announced the launch of a bipartisan investigation into the recent string of crippling ransomware attacks against U.S. companies. Chairman Peters said the HSGAC will be moving additional cybersecurity bills in its next markup. A number of measures strengthening the Defense Department's cybersecurity posture were included the Senate version of the FY 2022 NDAA, including $268.4 million across the DOD to support cybersecurity efforts. The House last week also passed eight bills focused on protecting telecommunications from cyberattacks.