Bill Overview
Title: DHS Roles and Responsibilities in Cyber Space Act
Description: This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report on its roles and responsibilities, as well as those of its components, for responding to cyber incidents. DHS must coordinate with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on the report.
Sponsors: Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Target Audience
Population: People with internet access
Estimated Size: 294000000
- The bill targets cyber incident response which generally relates to the security of data and networks nationally and internationally.
- Cyber incidents can affect individuals, businesses, and government entities connected to the internet.
- Globally, almost everyone with internet access depends on secure and dependable digital infrastructure.
Reasoning
- The budget constraints suggest that the policy implementation will be carefully targeted within the DHS to maximize impact with available funding.
- The target population is very large; thus, the direct impact on individual well-being scores (like the Cantril scale) might be minimal and more pronounced in sectors directly dealing with cybersecurity.
- The policy focuses on improved governance and coordination for cyber incidents which would predominantly benefit IT professionals, businesses handling sensitive data, and government entities.
- Individuals who rely heavily on secure digital infrastructure, such as people working in tech-dependent sectors, may experience a more noticeable impact.
Simulated Interviews
Cybersecurity Analyst (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy brings better clarity to our national response framework.
- Greater coordination should improve our efficiency in managing cyber threats.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Small Business Owner (New York, NY)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More structured roles in handling cyber incidents can help prevent what happened to my business.
- Investing in cybersecurity is critical for small businesses too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Freelance Web Developer (Austin, TX)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think having clearer roles defined can only be beneficial.
- Not sure how quickly this will impact freelancers like myself.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired Teacher (Columbus, OH)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't usually think about cybersecurity, but I understand its importance.
- I'm not sure if this policy will affect me directly as a retiree.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Data Scientist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced coordination by DHS could make our jobs much easier.
- Data breaches are a constant threat and need better management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
IT Manager (Denver, CO)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy should provide more concise guidelines for our practice.
- DHS taking lead role is a positive step for clarity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
College Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone entering the field, this policy could shape my future career.
- Cybersecurity needs more focus; glad to see efforts being made.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Hospital Administrator (Houston, TX)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Highly necessary for coordinated cybersecurity efforts in healthcare.
- This could help us better protect patient information.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Banking Professional (Chicago, IL)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like these contribute to stronger financial data security.
- The vulnerability of financial data requires constant vigilance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Software Developer (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- New policy alignment can enhance the tools we develop.
- Important to have governmental clarity on roles for faster responses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 5: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Key Considerations
- Coordination and understanding of cyber roles can prevent costly delays in response to cyber incidents.
- Initial costs are primarily due to staffing and potential consultants needed for comprehensive analysis and reporting.
- Long-term savings and GDP benefits are contingent on effective implementation and use of the coordinated report.