Senate Passes Chairman Cassidy’s Legislation to Strengthen Cybersecurity

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Maggie Hassan (D-NH), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Mark Warner (D-VA) released statements following the U.S. Senate's passage of their Health Care Cybersecurity and Resilience Act by unanimous consent. The bill was also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Angus King (I-ME).

"Cyberattacks can shut down hospitals and expose patients' private medical records," said Dr. Cassidy. "At a time when hostile actors are increasingly using sophisticated tactics to breach health care systems, the Health Care Cybersecurity and Resilience Act will help health care providers strengthen their defenses against cyber threats and protect patients' health data."

"Cyberattacks have exposed patients' private medical information and disrupted critical patient care in New Hampshire and across the country," said Senator Hassan. "This bipartisan legislation will help hospitals and health care providers, particularly those in rural communities with fewer resources, strengthen their cybersecurity and respond faster to attacks. I'm pleased to see that the Senate came together to pass this bill, and I'll keep working across the aisle to protect patients and strengthen our health care system."

"Patients deserve absolute confidence that their sensitive medical data stored online is protected and shielded from cybersecurity breaches or ransomware attacks," said Senator Cornyn. "This legislation would strengthen interagency coordination and improve security practices for rural providers, ensuring Texans' health care is not delayed or compromised by cyberattacks."

"Cyberattacks on our health care systems can have life-or-death consequences for patients and put the sensitive information of millions of Americans at risk," said Senator Warner. "I'm proud to have helped pass this critical legislation through the Senate, and I urge the House to act quickly. This bill will strengthen our cybersecurity, better protect patients and their information, and give rural health care providers in Virginia and across the country additional tools to defend against cyber threats."

Background:

As Chairman of the HELP Committee, Cassidy has led efforts to protect Americans' private data, including passing his bipartisan Health Information Privacy Reform Act unanimously in July. He has investigated several cybersecurity lapses, including those by NYC Health + Hospitals, Hims & Hers, Instructure, OPEXUS and UnitedHealth Group.

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