Cybersecurity Logging Enforcement and Accountability Reporting Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9492
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-10T08:06:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9492: Cybersecurity Logging Enforcement and Accountability Reporting Act
Purpose
This legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report that identifies gaps in resources, guidance, and policies needed to meet all event logging requirements for cybersecurity incidents at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The goal is to improve DHS's ability to comply with existing federal cybersecurity standards.
Key Provisions
- Report Requirement: Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary (acting through the Under Secretary for Management) must submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees. The report must cover efforts to satisfy requirements under Executive Order 14028, Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-26-14, and National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53.
- Report Elements:
- Analysis of DHS's current implementation status for event logging of cybersecurity incidents.
- Identification of gaps in guidance, policies, or resources that hinder compliance.
- Recommendations for policies, guidance, or resources to support full compliance.
- Form and Publication: The report must be unclassified with an unclassified executive summary, which must be published on a publicly accessible DHS website.
- Briefing Requirement: Within 30 days after submitting the report, the Secretary must provide a briefing to the appropriate congressional committees on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Definition: "Appropriate congressional committees" refers to the House Committee on Homeland Security, House Committee on Appropriations, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new mandatory reporting obligation for DHS regarding compliance with established cybersecurity event logging standards. It does not amend or repeal any existing statutes but adds a one-time assessment and reporting process to enforce accountability for requirements already set by executive order, OMB guidance, and NIST standards.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: DHS would need to conduct an internal review of its cybersecurity logging practices, potentially leading to improved resource allocation or policy updates. Other federal agencies might face similar scrutiny if the report highlights broader issues.
- On Citizens: Minimal direct impact, though better cybersecurity at DHS could indirectly enhance protection of sensitive government data that affects public services or privacy.
- On International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Homeland Security (primary agency required to produce the report and briefing).
- Congressional committees with oversight over homeland security and appropriations.
- Federal cybersecurity policymakers and standards bodies referenced in the bill (such as OMB and NIST).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill strengthens congressional oversight of executive branch cybersecurity practices without raising apparent constitutional concerns, as it focuses on reporting and does not impose new regulatory burdens. It promotes transparency through public release of the executive summary, which could influence future funding or policy decisions related to DHS operations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
- 2026-06-25: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Cybersecurity Logging Enforcement and Accountability Reporting Act — issued 2026-06-25 — PDF (4 pages)