The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) endorsed S.?2749, the?DOTGOV?Act of 2019 on Nov. 4. The legislation, introduced by Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., ranking member and chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, respectively, and Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and James Lankford, Okla., aims to “strengthen local government cybersecurity defenses by switching to the .gov domain for websites and email addresses.”
In a statement, NASCIO cites the bill’s requirement for the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to develop an outreach strategy and resources to assist local governments as a reason for its support. It also lauds a provision that would lessen the financial burden on local governments looking to make the jump to .gov by making the transition an allowable expense under DHS’s Homeland Security Grant Program the provision further?stipulates that the Director of CISA may waive any fees associated with migration to .gov.
“As local governments continue to be targets?of a?constant barrage of sophisticated cybersecurity and spoofing attacks, the .gov domain sends a message to the user that the domain is legitimate and secure, said NASCIO President and North Carolina Secretary and State CIO Eric Boyette.?”NASCIO has long advocated for the adoption of .gov domains and we greatly appreciate this legislative effort to?provide assistance to?vulnerable and under-resourced local governments.”
