Congress Passes Legislation To Enhance Cybersecurity Cooperation With Israel

On December 16, 2016, the Senate passed the U.S.–Israel Advanced Research Partnership Act. The legislation authorizes the Science and Technology Directorate of the DHS to expand its cooperation agreements with Israel to include research to improve cybersecurity capability and preparedness. A similar bill, the U.S.–Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act, was passed by the House of Representatives on January 31, 2017, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The bill seeks to establish a cybersecurity grant program under the DHS to support joint ventures between U.S. and Israeli businesses, nonprofits, academic institutions, and government agencies.