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Daily Archives: July 7, 2013

Federal Laws Relating to Cybersecurity: Overview and Discussion of Proposed Revisions

CRS – Federal Laws Relating to Cybersecurity: Overview and Discussion of Proposed Revisions – Eric A. Fischer, Senior Specialist in Science and Technology. June 20, 2013.

“For more than a decade, various experts have expressed increasing concerns about cybersecurity, in light of the growing frequency, impact, and sophistication of attacks on information systems in the United States and abroad. Consensus has also been building that the current legislative framework for cybersecurity might need to be revised. The complex federal role in cybersecurity involves both securing federal systems and assisting in protecting nonfederal systems. Under current law, all federal agencies have cybersecurity responsibilities relating to their own systems, and many have sector-specific responsibilities for critical infrastructure. More than 50 statutes address various aspects of cybersecurity either directly or indirectly, but there is no overarching framework legislation in place. While revisions to most of those laws have been proposed over the past few years, no major cybersecurity legislation has been enacted since 2002. Recent legislative proposals, including many bills introduced in recent Congresses, have focused largely on issues in 10 broad areas (see “Selected Issues Addressed in Proposed Legislation” for an overview of how current legislative proposals would address issues in several of those areas): national strategy and the role of government; reform of the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA); protection of critical infrastructure (including the electricity grid and the chemical industry); information sharing and cross-sector coordination; breaches resulting in theft or exposure of personal data such as financial information; cybercrime; privacy in the context of electronic commerce; international efforts; research and development, and the cybersecurity workforce.”

Independent Counsels, Special Prosecutors, Special Counsels, and the Role of Congress

CRS – Independent Counsels, Special Prosecutors, Special Counsels, and the Role of Congress. Jack Maskell – Legislative Attorney, June 20, 2013 This report provides information on the procedure for the appointment of an “independent counsel,” a “special prosecutor,” or a “special counsel” to investigate and prosecute potential or possible violations of federal criminal law by… Continue Reading

UK – Bees and other pollinators: their health and value

Bees and other pollinators: their health and value – “A report outlining the current and proposed government led policies and initiatives to support bees and other pollinators in England. Ref: PB13981 “Pollinators are animals that transfer pollen from the anthers to the stigma of a flower, enabling the flower to set seed and fruit (fertilisation).… Continue Reading

BIS – Capital requirements for banks’ equity investments in funds

“The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision today published a set of proposals that would revise the prudential treatment of banks’ equity investments in funds. The Basel II framework outlines the current treatment of banks’ equity investments in funds under the Standardised Approach and the Internal Ratings-Based (IRB) approaches for credit risk and the Committee believes… Continue Reading

BIS – New Report on Regulatory Consistency Assessment Programme

“The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has today published its first report on the regulatory consistency of risk-weighted assets (RWAs) for credit risk in the banking book. This study is a part of its wider Regulatory Consistency Assessment Programme (RCAP), which is intended to ensure consistent implementation of the Basel III framework. The study draws… Continue Reading

UK Parliament to launch in-depth inquiry into US surveillance programmes

News release: “Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee will conduct an “in-depth inquiry” into the US surveillance programmes, including the bugging of EU premises and other spying allegations, and present its results by the end of this year, says a resolution passed by the full House on Thursday. Parliament’s President and political group leaders formally confirmed the… Continue Reading

Europe – Parliament sets out priorities for overhauling EU banks

News release: “Bank board members must be personally liable for mistakes and banks’ riskier trading activities must be clearly separated from their more conservative lending ones, said MEPs on Wednesday, in a resolution setting out Parliament’s priorities for a broad overhaul of EU banks. The non-legislative resolution, an input to Commission proposals due in September,… Continue Reading

EPA and Commerce Link U.S. Analysis and Companies in Environmental Solutions Toolkit

News release: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Commerce are announcing the launch of an interactive online reference tool for international audiences that connects EPA environmental analysis and regulatory structure to U.S. solutions providers.  The U.S. Environmental Solutions Toolkit was developed as a joint venture between the EPA and the U.S.… Continue Reading

EIA – State Energy Data System: Complete Set of State-Level Estimates Through 2011

“The State Energy Data System (SEDS) is the source of the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) comprehensive state energy statistics. EIA’s goal in maintaining SEDS is to create historical time series of energy production, consumption, prices, and expenditures by state that are defined as consistently as possible over time and across sectors for analysis and… Continue Reading