Legislation to crack down on cyber crime was introduced Wednesday by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
Leahy designed the bill as a companion piece to cyber crime proposals the Obama administration sent to Congress last spring.
The bill would provide greater government power to prosecute computer fraud, enhance penalties for computer fraud and provide more resources for protecting the national cyber infrastructure.
In a statement, Leahy called cyber crime a "growing threat" and called on both political parties to work together to pass the legislation. He also cited one study that estimated the national cost of cyber crime at $114 billion a year.
"Developing a comprehensive strategy for cyber-security is one of the most pressing challenges facing our Nation today, and an issue that the Senate will tackle in the coming weeks," Leahy said. "A legislative response to the growing threat of cyber crime must be a part of that conversation."
The legislation's chances of passage are far from certain.
Leahy has submitted cyber crime-related bills since 2005, but Democrats only hold a 53-47 edge in the upper chamber, seven seats short of the 60 needed for passage.
Republicans have also been firm in resisting any new spending this year, and Obama's own legislation has been languishing since last May.
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