As a city with strong military roots, San Antonio has become an increasingly important part of the national conversation on cybersecurity and military defense. Those issues will be addressed by U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) and U.S. Rep Mac Thornberry (R-TX) during a special Breakfast at The Pearl Stable on Tuesday, May 3.
Hosted by the Greater San Antonio Chamber, the program will feature a thoughtful discussion on San Antonio’s continued work with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the city’s role in the growth of national cybersecurity.
Thornberry, the House Armed Services Committee chairman, will address federal defense spending, while Hurd, who serves as chairman of the IT Subcommittee of the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, will discuss San Antonio’s role in cybersecurity. The program will be moderated by Robert Rivard, director of The Rivard Report.
The discussion is particularly relevant after the House Homeland Security Committee‘s recent passage of H.R. 4743 – the National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Act – a bill that was introduced by Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and co-sponsored by Hurd.
“Cyberattacks are constantly being targeted towards the public and private sectors, as well as American citizens. No one is immune,” stated Hurd in a statement released on Friday. “Unfortunately, state and local communities often do not possess the same digital resources as the federal government, and need the tools to detect, respond to, and recover from a cyberattack.”
The new legislation allows nonprofits, including educational entities like the University of Texas at San Antonio, to work more closely with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and address cybersecurity risks and incidents at the state and local level.
H.R. 4743 will authorize DHS to partner with consortiums to provide cyber training, updated curriculum, and technical assistance to state and local first responders and officials, as they prepare for and respond to cybersecurity threats. The legislation will also allow for cross-sector cybersecurity training for entities, governments, and members of the private industry, and is expected to increase coordination and collaboration across multiple communities and develop effective cybersecurity defense and responses.
“As I’ve said before, cybersecurity isn’t just a buzzword. It’s a serious issue that can potentially impact every single American. This is common-sense legislation that strengthens our nation’s cyber posture at every level of government,” Hurd stated.
The program with Congressmen Hurd and Thornberry will be held at the Pearl Stable, at 307 Pearl Pkwy. Event registration opens at 7:30 a.m. The program and breakfast will take place from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tickets for individual Chamber members cost $40, while a table of eight costs $450. Tickets for non-members cost $55 each, and $550 for a table of eight. To purchase tickets, click here.
For more information about the event, contact Penny LaMaestra at 210-229-2119 or plamaestra@sachamber.org.
Top image: U.S. Representative Will Hurd (TX-23) is a San Antonio local and a product of the public school system here. Photo by Kathryn Boyd-Batstone.
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