Technology

The 397-0 vote sends a signal to participants discussing a global telecommunications treaty at a closed-door conference this week.

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) said legislation granting more visas to high-skilled workers would shut out racial groups from low-immigration countries.

The House will likely vote next week on a bill that would increase the number of green cards available to people with advanced degrees in science, math and technology.

The House Rules Committee is set to look at H.R. 6429, the STEM Jobs Act, which would allow the spouses and children of legal residents to come to the United States while they wait for their green cards. 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday that he hopes cybersecurity legislation is brought up again in the Senate.

McConnell said he opposed a cloture motion on the Cybersecurity Act, S. 3414, Wednesday night because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) wouldn’t allow an open amendment process. Reid had said he’d allow a “finite” number of Republican amendments.

A procedural motion to move forward on the Cybersecurity Act was rejected Wednesday in a 51-47 vote.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said Wednesday that rushing a vote on the Cybersecurity Act is “eerily reminiscent of the conversation we had about ObamaCare.”

The Senate is holding a second vote to advance the Cybersecurity Act, which would encourage companies that operate critical infrastructure — such as water plants, electric companies and transportation networks — to take steps to boost the security of their computer systems and networks. It also aims to make it easier for industry to share information about cyber threats spotted on their networks with the government.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) urged his colleagues Wednesday to advance a motion to vote on the Cybersecurity Act of 2012.

The Senate will hold a procedural vote Wednesday evening on S. 3414 for a second time, in order to try and advance a bill that would implement infrastructure changes to public and private sectors to protect them from a cyberattack.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he hopes to reach an agreement with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to hold a vote on the Cybersecurity Act and Sportsmen’s Act on Wednesday.

Reid said the Cybersecurity Act was one of the most important national security issues facing Congress.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Tuesday the Senate would hold a vote on cybersecurity legislation before leaving for Thanksgiving break.

Reid also said he’d like to move onto the Defense Authorization bill, but doesn’t expect to hold a vote by Thanksgiving.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) on Wednesday indicated he might push for tougher privacy laws in response to a case in which several computer rental companies programmed computers to spy on customers in their own homes.

"I was dumbfounded when I heard about this case," Barton said Wednesday. "How can any company believe that it is OK to secretly gather data such as medical records, keystrokes and even taking webcam pictures of unknowing customers inside their homes?