Tech bills of the week: Mitigating risks to critical infrastructure; incentivizing domestic high-tech manufacturing; and more
Publish Date: 2026-05-22 17:29:00
Source Domain: www.nextgov.com
In response to various cybersecurity threats, Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., introduced two measures aimed at bolstering U.S. infrastructure’s resilience against cyber threats, particularly those originating from China. The Strengthening Cyber Resilience Against State-Sponsored Threats Act would create a joint interagency task force led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to analyze and respond to threats. A separate bill on Maritime Cybersecurity Act seeks to ensure cybersecurity in critical waterways by directing the Department of Homeland Security to conduct annual assessments of maritime facility security systems for vulnerabilities. Other measures introduced include tax credits for domestic production of printed circuit boards, known as the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act, federal grants for tech modernization for state and local governments, and the establishment of a nonprofit Foundation for Digital Opportunity to democratize access to digital tools. Additionally, legislation has been introduced to enhance Small Business cybersecurity, create a digital portal to help locate unclaimed veterans’ remains, and spur domestic manufacturing of space-based semiconductors with tax credits.
Key Points:
– Legislation introduced to bolster cybersecurity of critical infrastructure against Chinese cyber threats.
– Efforts to incentivize domestic production of printed circuit boards to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly China.
– Proposals to modernize state and local governmental technology services and provide grants for related initiatives.
