Far too often, we hear reports of sensitive data systems being threatened and breached by cybercriminals, often resulting in the exposure of people’s personal information. Earlier this year, a cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a nationwide healthcare payment processor, resulted in one of the largest healthcare data breaches in U.S. history, which compromised an estimated one hundred million people’s personal and health information. This is just one example of the devastating impacts that cyberattacks can have on our daily lives, and with our growing dependence on technology, it is crucial that we establish the highest possible level of cybersecurity in Pennsylvania.
 
For these reasons, I will be reintroducing former House Bill 1139 to establish a Cybersecurity Coordination Board, which will act as a centralized, integrated system of cybersecurity across all Pennsylvania agencies and branches. The board will gain the knowledge needed to strengthen cybersecurity by conducting audits and analyzing current federal, state and local protocols. This will modernize Pennsylvania’s cybersecurity standards, policies and procedures, and help to prevent future cyberattacks and data breaches from putting our personal data at risk.
 
Each day, our systems are monitored by cybercriminals and hackers seeking new ways to invade and exploit sensitive personal data, causing consumers heartache and financial loss. We must act now to identify and implement a unified model of cybersecurity to help ensure our data systems can withstand the threat of compromise. Once this is achieved, we can all take comfort in knowing that our most sensitive personal information is safe and secure.
 
Please join me in supporting these efforts to strengthen our digital infrastructure and protect all consumers from the growing threat of cybercrime.