Small Tech Companies Have New Caucus

A look at the week of August 1 in public advocacy for the IT channel: This week, the House established a Congressional Small Business Information Technology Caucus to address issues faced by small tech firms.  The Senate introduced data security legislation.  Cybersecurity bills are stalling in the House despite a growing sense of urgency over recent attacks.  Leaders from high-tech companies are pressing for legislation to keep international students in the U.S. after completing their studies in order to fill tech jobs that would otherwise move abroad.

Small Tech Companies Have New Caucus— Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) have created a new Congressional Small Business Information Technology Caucus to raise awareness for issues affecting emerging technology firms — a group that supporters say needs more representation in Congress, reports Politico (see CompTIA’s press release on this event). The two lawmakers will chair the committee, which will seek to educate members of Congress on issues affecting tens of thousands of IT firms nationwide.

Senators Introduce Data-Security Bill —Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) introduced data security legislation meant to combat identity theft, reports The Hill. The Data Security Act would require financial establishments, retailers and federal agencies to protect sensitive information and to notify consumers after a data breach. Although most states already have laws requiring companies to protect private information, the requirements vary between states and there is no federal standard.

Reid Pushes Republicans for Cybersecurity Bill — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urged Republican leaders to resume work on a massive cybersecurity bill aimed at combating breaches and theft from U.S. companies and government networks, and Republicans agreed. Reid, a Democrat, said in a letter to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell that the staffers for seven committees drafting the bill had not even met to discuss it for weeks, Reuters reports. Lawmakers have considered several cybersecurity bills in recent years, but failed to pass any despite a growing sense of urgency following hacking attacks.

U.S. Business Leaders Press Senate Panel for More Work Visas — U.S. business leaders are urging the Senate to implement immigration law changes to allow companies to hire more highly skilled workers.  Companies report increasing pressure to move unfilled high-tech jobs overseas and believe that retaining some of the thousands of foreign born, American-trained masters and doctoral students would help, says the Wall Street Journal. Business interests have in the past pressed for a greater number of the work permits, known as H1-B visas, but changes haven't cleared Congress in recent years.