Meehan-sponsored homeland security bills sent to President

A trio of homeland security bills sponsored by U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan have passed Congress and are headed to President Barack Obama’s desk.

The bi-partisan legislation includes two bills aimed at preventing cyberattacks and another that seeks to better protect chemical facilities from terrorist attacks.

Meehan, R-7, of Upper Darby, called the passage of the bills “important steps forward in improving our nation’s security.”

“The House and Senate passed legislation, and Republicans and Democrats worked together to compromise and find areas of agreement,” Meehan said in a statement. “The result: groundbreaking cybersecurity legislation that protects our nation’s critical infrastructure from cyberattack, and legislation that will improve security at chemical facilities.”

As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies, Meehan played a key role in developing each of the bills passed.

The National Cybersecurity Protection Act of 2014 codifies the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center at the Department of Homeland Security and its existing cybersecurity responsibilities. The legislation was a Senate companion bill to a House Resolution Meehan sponsored.

The Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment Act requires the secretary of Homeland Security to assess and enhance the department’s cybersecurity workforce. The Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Acts of 2014 reauthorizes the Chemical Facilities Antiterrorism Standards program, providing guidelines to improve its operation, measure progress and enhance security. Meehan sponsored each of these bills.