The White House on Thursday gave its formal support to the Senate's Cybersecurity Act of 2012 as the chamber prepared to move forward on a newly revised version of the bill.
"The administration strongly supports Senate passage of S. 3414, the Cybersecurity Act of 2012," the White House said in a statement of administration policy. "While lacking some of the key provisions of earlier bills, the revised legislation will provide important tools to strengthen the nation's response to cybersecurity risks. The legislation also reflects many of the priorities included in the administration's legislative proposal."
Along with sponsors of the bill, the White House had pushed for more authority for government officials to set standards for certain critical networks. Compromises were made to try to win support from businesses and Republicans wary of new government regulation, but President Obama still voiced support for the revised bill.
The White House did say, however, that it would not support amendments that could further reduce a federal role in cybersecurity standards, as some Republicans have called for.
The Senate is debating a procedural vote on whether to move ahead with debate on the bill. A vote on the motion to proceed is expected on either Thursday or Friday.