Widespread Information Management for the Welfare of Infrastructure and Government Act
Summary
H.R. 5079 would reauthorize and extend the Cybersecurity Act of 2015, which is set to expire on September 30, 2025. The bill would continue the federal government's requirement to share technical information about cyber threats with private companies, state and local governments, and other nonfederal entities through 2035. It would also authorize the government to accept and use information on cyber threats that are identified by artificial intelligence systems. The bill has passed committee review and is eligible for a floor vote in the House. If enacted, the legislation would cost an estimated 37 million dollars over five years to maintain the systems and staff needed to collect and share cyber threat information. The bill would extend legal protections to cybersecurity providers who share threat information with the government, encouraging private companies to report cyber attacks and vulnerabilities more quickly. The legislation also requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop outreach programs to help smaller and rural critical infrastructure operators understand how to participate in threat information sharing and protect personal information during these exchanges.