Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Schiff and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., have released a new cybersecurity bill, the Water Cyber Shield Act. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., released a new cybersecurity bill, the Water Cyber Shield Act, on Monday in an effort to meet increased cybersecurity needs for U.S. water infrastructure.
This follows recent cyberattacks on more than 30 municipal water systems throughout Minnesota and other states last month. Officials suspect that they may originate from Iran-based hackers.
While utilities regained control over their systems and water supplies were not affected, CBS News reported, cybersecurity experts saidthe attacks exposed longstanding weaknesses.
A press release from Schiff, the top Democrat on the Fisheries,Water and Wildlife subcommittee of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said the act would strengthen federal oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency, provide important funding for local utilities and protect drinking water and wastewater systems from cyberattacks.
