A bill that proponents say would enhance the security and resiliency of the cyber and communications infrastructure of the United States was blocked Wednesday, and Sen. Daniel Akaka isn’t happy about it.

A cloture vote on Senate Bill 3414 failed 51-47, with Republicans providing nearly all of the nay votes. Akaka was among those, mostly Democrats, who wanted to end debate. Sen. Daniel Inouye missed the vote. Sixty aye votes are needed to end debate when a filibuster is threatened.

Afterwards, Akaka put out this statement:

I am disappointed that some of my colleagues again blocked this critical national security legislation. We must act to protect Americans’ safety, personal information, credit card numbers, intellectual property, trade secrets, and sensitive government intelligence. 

For years, my colleagues and I on the Homeland Security Committee have heard about how computer networks in the United States – both in the government and in the private sector – are under constant cyber attack.  The computer control systems that operate our critical infrastructure, such as our electricity grid, water plants, and transportation systems, have been incessantly targeted as well. 

Last month, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned that the U.S. faced the threat of a ‘cyber Pearl Harbor’ and national security experts on both sides of the aisle have warned about a impending ‘cyber 9/11.’  As a witness to the attack on Pearl Harbor, it is frightening to know that a successful attack on a critical infrastructure control system could lead to more loss of life, injury, and damage than those terrible events.  That is why I am disappointed that we once again failed to put partisan differences aside and pass this critical bill.  In light of today’s continued obstruction, I urge President Obama to move forward with an executive order to enhance the cybersecurity of our nation’s critical infrastructure.

— Michael Levine