On March 2, 2017 lawmakers in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives introduced the State Cyber Resiliency Act, which would give state, local, and tribal governments grants to boost cybersecurity protections.  The proposed grants will help states draft cyber resiliency plans to identify, detect, protect against, and recover from threats to cyber security.  It also would encourage states to invest in cybersecurity workforces. 

The Act was introduced by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Barbara Comstock (R-VA).  In announcing the legislation, the lawmakers noted that a 2015 study found that fifty percent of state and local governments faced between six and 25 cyber breaches in the previous two years, and attacks on state and local governments are growing in frequency.  This growing threat has presented challenges for local governments that often manage substantial amounts of sensitive data, including with respect to vital infrastructure, public safety systems, and voting.  The lawmakers specifically noted that hackers have breached more than 200,000 personal voter records in Arizona and Illinois.