Congressional Spotlight:
Representative Dan Lungren (CA-3)
About Representative Lungren
Born: Long Beach, CA, September 22, 1946
Sworn in:2004 (began first term in January 2005)
Education: University of Notre Dame, B.A. (English), 1968; Georgetown University, J.D., (Law), 1971
Committee Assignments: House Committee on Homeland Security, Chairman, Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity; House Committee on the Judiciary; House Budget Committee.
Career: Attorney/Businessman
Notable: Congressman Lungren has served in the House before, from 1979-1989. In 1985, he was cited by the US News and World Report as one of a handful of members of Congress “likely to be a future national leader.” He left the House and became California’s Attorney General, serving from 1991-1999. With his return to Congress, Rep. Lungren now serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security, House Committee on the Judiciary, and House Budget Committee.
Congressman Dan Lungren, Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity, is a key figure in the House of Representatives actively supporting efforts to improve cyber security. His subcommittee has jurisdiction over strategies to protect against terrorist attack, prioritizing investment in critical infrastructure protections, as well as border, port, and transportation security, and security of computer, telecommunications, information technology and electronic infrastructure. CSIA has had the opportunity to brief his office and testify before his subcommittee regarding the growing number of cyber security issues that affect both the government and the private sector, both nationally and internationally. Congressman Lungren also took time last month to meet with CSIA Board Members to discuss concerns from industry leaders’ perspectives and possible solutions.
As Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity, Congressman Lungren led the way in the Subcommittee’s passage of H.R. 285, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2005, which called for a new position of Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity within the Department of Homeland Security. The newly created position is positioned to empower the head of the National Cybersecurity Division with official responsibilities across the federal government and the private sector. Congressman Lungren stated, “The majority of our nation’s critical technology infrastructure is outside of federal control – with 85% in private hands. The Department of Homeland Security must work hand in hand with the private sector – not only because the majority of technical infrastructure is owned privately, but also because the private sector is at the forefront of innovative, productive, and efficient technologies to secure cyberspace and associated critical infrastructure… An attack on the financial services sector or the stock market could have incalculable long-term economic repercussions for our nation’s financial security.”
Dan Lungren, who represents California’s 3rd Congressional District, is a native of California, but is no stranger to Washington, DC and the US House of Representatives. While in law school in DC, Dan Lungren worked on the staff of U.S. Senators George Murphy (R-CA) and Bill Brock (R-TN), and then moved on to be a special assistant to the Co-Chairman of the Republican National Committee in 1971-1972. After working with the RNC, Congressman Lungren returned to California and joined a local law firm specializing in a predominately civil trial practice.
Congressman Lungren first sought elective office in 1976, narrowly losing a bid for California's 34th Congressional District. Two years later, he re-challenged the two-term incumbent and won the Congressional seat. For ten years, Mr. Lungren served in the U.S. Congress, where he was viewed as a Republican leader in criminal justice and immigration issues. Mr. Lungren left Congress in 1989 and returned to California when then-Governor George Deukmejian appointed him to serve out the State Treasurer's term of the late Jesse Unruh. The following year, Congressman Lungren was elected Attorney General of California, a position he held for eight years.
During his two-term service as California's Attorney General (1991-1999), Congressman Lungren helped author and later defended in court California's landmark “Three-Strikes-and-You're-Out” law. Dan’s sponsorship of legislation against sexual predators culminated in the state's “Megan's Law,” giving Californians the right to know if their children are at risk of predators in their own neighborhoods. He provided national leadership in the reform of the federal habeas corpus law. As Attorney General, Congressman Lungren successfully argued a case before the United States Supreme Court.
From 1993 to 1998, crime dropped 30 percent to historic lows in California, in large part due to the tough-on-crime policies of Dan Lungren. Following an unsuccessful run for Governor against Gray Davis in 1998, Congressman Lungren hosted a nationally syndicated radio talk show and served as a fellow at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics before returning to the private practice of law.
The events of 9-11 prompted Mr. Lungren’s return to public service. He sought election to the Congress so that the lessons learned from his past governmental experience might be added to the national debate. To prevail in the fight against global terrorism, Congressman Lungren believes that we must develop and maintain unsurpassed training and equipment for our troops, provide the resources for our intelligence community to adapt to the changing world, provide adequate funding for forward looking defense programs, and create a homeland security strategy based on rational risk assessment rather than pork barrel politics.
Congressman Lungren believes that America’s national defense is the number one responsibility and priority of the federal government, and this belief was affirmed on 9/11. He is personally committed to enhancing the quality and depth of Congressional oversight of our government’s intelligence gathering and analysis and the provision of homeland security. And as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity, he is increasingly becoming involved in cyber security issues and recognizes the need to resolve the problems in order to further enhance our national defense. Congressman Lungren also recognizes the importance of cyber security to protect consumers and maintain a strong global economy. CSIA looks forward to continuing our work with Congressman Lungren.
Comments from Representative Lungren
April 27th proved to be a historic day for Congress, homeland security and more specifically, for cyber security. It was on this day that the full permanent Committee on Homeland Security passed the first ever Homeland Security Authorization Act. This bill, authorizing the entire operation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), specifically establishes the position of an Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity.
This legislation contains a comprehensive definition of cybersecurity at the Department level and elevates this issue to a top priority within DHS. As contemplated by the bill, the Assistant Secretary will maintain primary authority within DHS for all cybersecurity-related critical infrastructure programs of DHS, including policy formation and program management.
The presidential appointee in this new position will work to coordinate with Federal, State and local governments to enhance their cybersecurity programs and seek to establish cooperation internationally. By dedicating this position to cybersecurity, progress toward protecting our nation’s key infrastructure will be made be more quickly and efficiently. This is an urgent priority as technology is a backbone for nearly all of our nation’s critical infrastructure, including health, transportation, production and government functions.