Cotton, colleagues introduce legislation to address cybersecurity threats to U.S. agriculture
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Tom Cotton (RArkansas) and Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) today reintroduced the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act, legislation that would strengthen cybersecurity protections for the agriculture and food critical infrastructure sectors. The bill will identify vulnerabilities and improve protective measures of both the government and private groups against cyber threats to America’s food supply chain.
Co-sponsoring the legislation are Senators Pete Ricketts (RNebraska), Thom Tillis (RNorth Carolina), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), and Ted Budd (R-North Carolina).
Congressman Brad Finstad (Minnesota-01) is introducing companion legislation in the House.
“America’s adversaries are seeking to gain any advantage they can against us—including targeting critical industries like agriculture.
Congress must work with the Department of Agriculture to identify and defeat these cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
This legislation will ensure we are prepared to protect the supply chains our farmers and all Americans rely on,” said Senator Cotton.
“Food security is national security, and the Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act is a vital step toward safeguarding Michigan’s agriculture and food sectors,” said Senator Slotkin. “Cyber attacks threaten our food supply constantly, and we must ensure both government and private industries are prepared. This bipartisan bill will require the Department of Agriculture to work closely with our national security agencies to ensure that our adversaries, like China, can’t threaten our ability to feed ourselves by ourselves.”
'With innovation and advancement in precision ag technology, the agricultural industry has become more technologically advanced, creating new challenges and vulnerabilities for farmers across southern Minnesota and the nation,” said Congressman Finstad. “Food security is national security. The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act will make tremendous strides to protect our nation’s food supply from the imminent cyber threats that the ag sector experiences here at home.”
Supporting the legislation are the North American Millers Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, USA Rice, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
The Farm and Food Cybersecurity Act would:
• Direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a risk assessment every two years of the cybersecurity threat to, and vulnerabilities in, the
See STATE, page A10 STATE
From page A3
agriculture and food sectors and submit a report to Congress.
• Direct the Secretary of Agriculture, in coordination with the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, as well as the Director of National Intelligence, to conduct an annual cross-sector crisis simulation exercise for food-related cyber emergencies or disruptions.
***
Searcy man facing 10 counts of rape involving pre-teenager
SEARCY — A Searcy 50year-old is officially facing 10 rape charges for multiple alleged offenses involving a juvenile between November 2023 and October 2024.
A warrant was issued for Willie James Young earlier this month at the request of the 17th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office on the class Y felonies.
Young, who was charged as an habitual offender, is set for plea and arraignment in White County Circuit Court on Tuesday. He has been held in the White County Detention Center on a $300,000 bond since being arrested for failure to appear July 25.
The allegations against Young were reported to the Arkansas Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, which contacted the White County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 22.
The pre-teenager reportedly said that Young sexually assaulted her “on a least 10 to 11 occasions” at a Searcy residence, making her perform sexual acts or have sexual intercourse. “The most recent occurrence occurred in the state of Louisiana in the weeks prior to the report being made,” Detective Cpl.
Misty Goss wrote in the affidavit.
A medical examination indicated “that sexual abuse or contact had occurred,” Goss wrote.
Young, who was interviewed at the sheriff’s office Sept. 20, reportedly “denied having any sexual contact with the victim, claiming that his only sexual partner was his wife.”
***
Arkansas Army National
Guard changes command this Saturday
LITTLE ROCK — An Army officer with more than 27 years of service will take command of the Arkansas Army National Guard in a ceremony at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Brig. Gen. Nicholas Jaskolski, most recently the 35th Infantry Division’s deputy commanding general – support, will assume overall command of 6,500 Army Guardsmen from Brig. Gen. Leland Tony Shepherd.
The Arkansas Army National Guard consists of four brigades and two specialty units: 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 77th Theater Aviation Brigade, 87th Troop Command, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center and the 233rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute.
“Nick is a superb military leader who is poised to continue shaping our Arkansas Army National Guard into the fighting force our nation deserves and can depend on,” Brig. Gen. Chad Bridges, Arkansas’ adjutant general, said.
Jaskolski commissioned a second lieutenant in 1996 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
He’s served as a platoon leader, multiple staff officer assignments at the battalion and brigade levels, battalion commander, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade commander and Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center commander before assuming his most previous assignment at the 35th Infantry Division in Kansas.
The general deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007-2008 where he served with the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade as part of Multinational Division – North, based in Mosul, Iraq.
His military education includes a master’s degree is strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a bachelor of science in computer engineering from West Point.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, Overseas Service Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.
JASKOLSKI
