For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today hosted her third roundtable meeting with private sector leaders to discuss the shared responsibility of the private sector in supporting the Department’s mission and highlight ongoing cooperative efforts to enhance critical infrastructure protection, readiness and resiliency.
Secretary Napolitano underscored her commitment to raising awareness about the importance of protecting America’s vital assets, systems and networks during today’s meeting which included leaders from on information technology, communications, manufacturing, agriculture and food, defense industrial base, dams, and commercial facilities sectors.
Secretary Napolitano asked the private sector leaders for their input on ways to better engage stakeholders in the shared responsibility of protecting critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR).
She also highlighted DHS commitment to safeguard CIKR by enhancing information sharing capabilities and encouraging all-hazards planning at the state and local to include private sector partners. She also discussed the process for soliciting input on enhancements to the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP)—a DHS-led, government-wide, national approach for public-private partnerships around the country to protect CIKR.
On Nov. 20, Secretary Napolitano met with sector leaders from emergency services, health care, transportation systems, and postal and shipping sectors, and the Government Coordinating Councils for national monuments and government facility sectors.
She met previously with leadership from the energy, nuclear, water and chemical sectors and launched a new Web site—www.dhs.gov/critical infrastructure—designed to provide stakeholders and the public with easily accessible information about their role in safeguarding CIKR.
CIKR includes physical and digital assets, systems and networks that play significant roles in America’s safety, economy and public health. Their incapacitation or destruction could debilitate the overall stability of the United States and threaten national security.
CIKR is comprised of 18 unique sectors—the vast majority of which are owned and operated by the private sector. The sectors represent key areas such as food and water, manufacturing, energy, communications and transportation systems, and emergency services. DHS coordinates security efforts with the full range of CIKR partners—state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector—via a network of Government and Sector Coordinating Councils.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/criticalinfrastructure.
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