Bill Overview
Title: Cyber Response and Recovery Act of 2021
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to declare a significant incident in the event of a breach of a public or private network and establishes a Cyber Response and Recovery Fund. Specifically, DHS may make the declaration upon determining that a specific significant incident has occurred or is likely to occur imminently and that otherwise available resources, other than the fund, are likely insufficient to respond to or mitigate the incident effectively. Upon a declaration, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency must coordinate (1) the response activities of each federal agency; and (2) with other responding entities, including local governments and law enforcement agencies. A declaration or renewal of a declaration may not include the name of any affected individual or private company. The fund shall be available for the coordination of such activities and for response and recovery support.
Sponsors: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]
Target Audience
Population: People reliant on cybersecurity measures to protect their data and network integrity
Estimated Size: 282200000
- The legislation aims to secure both public and private networks, implying a broad impact on any person or entity relying on network services, which includes nearly the entire global population.
- Given the Internet's global reach, network breaches are a worldwide issue, thereby impacting billions who use digital and online services.
- The response activities coordinated by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency involve federal, state, local governments and law enforcement indicates a national focus in detailed coordination.
- The authorization for the Department of Homeland Security to intervene in network security suggests the primary impact on U.S. citizens, as the DHS is a U.S. governmental body.
Reasoning
- The population for this simulation primarily includes internet users and organizations dependent on digital networks.
- Given the policy's budget constraints and the extensive global population relying on digital infrastructure, individual impacts may be limited in scale but significant in occurrence.
- Cybersecurity threats and responses typically involve a broad range of profiles, from corporate IT managers to individual consumers, reflecting different levels of concern and attention to cybersecurity.
- The simulated individuals include those from various socioeconomic backgrounds and regions within the US to reflect the diverse impacts of cybersecurity on daily life.
- The impact on each individual varies based on factors like prior experience with cyber breaches, reliance on digital services for business or personal use, and general awareness of cybersecurity measures.
Simulated Interviews
IT Security Specialist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Act seems like a positive step for coordinating responses to major cyber threats.
- Having a dedicated fund and federal coordination might streamline processes during hectic times.
- I'm concerned about bureaucratic delays in declaring incidents.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (New York, NY)
Age: 33 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely heavily on secure transactions for my online store.
- This Act could provide a safety net in the event of an attack.
- I'm unsure how directly this will help small businesses like mine.
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 | 6 | 5 |
Data Analyst (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The Act could help protect sensitive financial data.
- Coordination between agencies is crucial for handling large-scale breaches.
- I hope it includes transparency in operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not very tech-savvy, so I'm concerned about any vulnerabilities.
- If the Act helps secure my online activities, I'm all for it.
- I wish there was more focus on consumer education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (Austin, TX)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My entire business depends on a secure internet connection.
- I appreciate federal initiatives that protect against cyber threats.
- The focus seems more corporate; I hope freelancers are considered too.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Schools could benefit from enhanced cybersecurity measures.
- I worry about students' data whenever new tech is introduced.
- I hope the policy supports educational institutions effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Healthcare IT Manager (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy sounds beneficial for protecting sensitive healthcare data.
- It's crucial for healthcare providers to have quick support in a breach.
- Interagency coordination will be key to effectiveness.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Non-Profit Administrator (Denver, CO)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Non-profits often get overlooked in these policies.
- Ensuring donor data security is a major concern for us.
- The policy could help if it trickles down to our level.
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 | 6 | 5 |
Software Developer (Boston, MA)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Coordination between agencies and response teams is vital.
- The fund's financial resources should alleviate resource constraints during crises.
- I hope it minimizes downtime for businesses during breaches.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Network Engineer (Charlotte, NC)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Telecom companies should benefit significantly from such a policy.
- Sharing response responsibilities across agencies is beneficial.
- I hope it speeds up response times during breaches.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 3: $350000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $400000000)
Year 5: $400000000 (Low: $350000000, High: $450000000)
Year 10: $500000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $550000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1100000000)
Key Considerations
- Cybersecurity incidents are growing in frequency and complexity, necessitating organized federal responses.
- The legislative focus on both public and private networks reflects a holistic approach to national cybersecurity.
- The coordination among federal and local agencies is crucial for effective response but might require significant bureaucratic adjustments.
- Funding fluctuations may affect the long-term efficacy of the government's response capability.