Statement by the Honorable Michael Burgess, MD

Cyber Security Challenges at the Department of Energy

June 9, 2006

Thank you Mr. Chairman, and thank you for holding this important hearing.

In the post 9-11 world that we live in today, our national security has become the most important issue facing our nation. We must do everything within our power to ensure that we do not become victims of terrorism again. Our committee has a very important responsibility to the American public, and I am glad we are continuing our oversight of nuclear facilities. As terrorist become more and more sophisticated, we must continue to implement and maintain comprehensive measures to secure our safety.

I am deeply concerned about the reported lack of safety and security surrounding some nuclear facilities. From my understanding, there have been many instances where cyber attacks could have been avoided if simple security controls, such as security patches and effective passwords, had been implemented. While many cyber problems cannot be cured by a patch or password, it’s unbelievable that the agency responsible for so many of our national security measures could have overlooked the simplest of solutions. It is no wonder that Inspector General Gregory Friedman has given the DOE an unsatisfactory assessment during its recent FISMA evaluation. However, I am encouraged by the DOE’s revitalization plan and I look forward to discussing this issue in more detail.

Again, Mr. Chairman, I thank you for this crucial hearing in which we can discuss some of these essential concerns regarding the DOE’s cyber security and the security of our nation.