Cybersecurity bill expected to pass

The House is expected to easily pass a $903 million cybersecurity research bill on Tuesday under expedited floor procedures, according to House Science Committee spokeswoman Heidi Tringe.

As originally passed by the House in February, the measure, H.R. 3394, would have authorized $878 million. The Senate added $25 million to increase the number of faculty qualified to teach college-level cybersecurity courses when it passed the bill Oct. 17.

The Senate also added a requirement for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to create a cybersecurity checklist for federal agencies.

"The bill has broad bipartisan support, particularly in this climate with the president calling for action on homeland security," Tringe said. "This is vital legislation that addresses a critically important component of homeland security, one that is often overlooked."