Technology

He said Republicans oppose the legislation because the Chamber of Commerce doesn't like it.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said it’s “scary” that the cybersecurity bill is stalling.

“It’s scary that we’re not doing something on this bill,” Reid said on the floor Wednesday morning. “The nation’s top security experts have said a cyber 9/11 is imminent.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday filed a motion to end debate and proceed to the cybersecurity bill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) urged those working on the cybersecurity bill to come up with a finite list of amendments soon.

“I’m going to be very patient,” Reid said on the floor Tuesday morning. “But I hope that can be done soon. There’s not a lot of time left to tread water.”

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Monday filed several amendments addressing privacy issues to the Cybersecurity Act being considered by the Senate this week.

The amendments include provisions that address breaches of personal data, video sharing and online law enforcement. Another amendment filed by Leahy would increase cybersecurity research and development.

“Developing a comprehensive strategy for cybersecurity is one of the most pressing challenges facing our nation today,” Leahy said in a statement Monday. “In the information age, stronger privacy protections are also needed to safeguard Americans’ personal information and private communications in cyberspace.”

Sen. Schumer suggested that Democrats make it clear that their goal is not to repeal the Second Amendment.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he’s open to having amendments to the cybersecurity bill and hopes to vote on them next week.

“There’s plenty of room for changes,” Reid said on the floor Thursday. “Let’s have as many amendments as people feel appropriate.”

Next on the Senate docket is a bipartisan cybersecurity bill.

The Cybersecurity Act aims to protect American from cyber attacks against the Web, electrical grid, banking systems, military operations, transportation networks and others.

Sens. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) teamed up to introduce a bill Thursday that would protect consumers from online fraud.

Pryor and Ayotte said they were concerned that current tools used to combat global Internet scams are set to expire next year. The Undertaking Spam, Spyware and Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders Act (U.S. SAFE WEB Act) will extend current authorities until 2020.

House and Senate Democrats proposed legislation on Thursday that would establish federal grants to help create forensic-science standards, in an effort to help reduce wrongful convictions based on flawed forensic results.

The Forensic Science and Standards Act, from Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), would provide $200 million over the next five years in grants that boost forensic science research, and nearly $100 million in that same period that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) would use to develop standards in the field.