SIFMA today released the following statement from Kenneth E. Bentsen, Jr., president and CEO, after the House Committee on Homeland Security reported out H.R. 3696, the National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2013:
"Cybersecurity is increasingly a major threat to our financial system. SIFMA members are dedicating significant resources to protect the millions of Americans who use financial services every day and rely on the integrity of our markets. We commend the Committee for advancing this important legislation that could enhance how the government and private sector work together to mitigate cyber threats. A strong public-private partnership, complete with robust information sharing, is the most effective way to prevent and defend against cyber attacks.
"We strongly encourage Congress to make cybersecurity a priority. Complacency is not an option, and the financial industry is continuously working to improve its cybersecurity defenses, including a follow-up to our 2013 Quantum Dawn 2 exercise, and we call on Congress to do its part as well."