Members of Congress Propose National Commission on Security and Technology Challenges

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Sen Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the National Commission on Security and Technology Challenges. The purpose of this Commission is to collectively address the larger issue of protecting national security and digital security, without letting encrypted communications become a safe haven for terrorists. This Commission would bring together the most capable experts and stakeholders from law enforcement, the technology industry, the intelligence community, and privacy and civil liberties communities to discuss the challenges and advise policy makers on this complex issue.

The Commission would also provide recommendations on the best path forward for the security of our nation and the public safety of Americans. The McCaul-Warner Commission on Digital Security was introduced in the House on Monday, February 29, 2016 with the following original cosponsors: Reps Jim Langevin (D-RI-02); Pat Meehan (R-PA-07); Suzan Delbene (D-WA-01); Mike Bishop (R-MI-08); Ted Lieu (D-CA-33); Will Hurd (R-TX-23); Kathleen Rice (D-NY-04); Blake Farenthold (R-TX-27); Eric Swalwell (D-CA-15); Dan Donovan (R-NY-11); Jerry McNerney (D-CA-09); Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10); Mimi Walters (R-CA-45); Ryan Costello (R-PA-06); Dave Reichert (R-WA-08). The bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens Warner, Cory Gardner (R-CO), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Angus King (I-ME) and Dean Heller (R-NV).