Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) issued the following statement after receiving a letter from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announcing the State Department’s creation of a Bureau for Cyberspace and the Digital Economy:

“This is welcomed. Cyberspace is vital to America’s national security, and to our economy. That’s why I have long called for the State Department to have a high-ranking diplomat who can confront the full range of challenges we face online. The Foreign Affairs Committee will continue to work with the department and our colleagues in the Senate to ensure this assistant secretary and bureau are empowered to engage on the full range of cyber issues, dealing with security, human rights, and the economy. This includes enacting my Cyber Diplomacy Act, passed by the House in January, which will help keep America safe and strong.”

Note: Chairman Royce received the letter during a hearing he convened on U.S. cyber diplomacy in an era of growing threats. He has authored two bills (the Cyber Diplomacy Act and the Digital GAP Act) that call for a senior diplomat at the State Department charged with advancing U.S. cyber priorities.

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