Kennedy bill aims to create Russian response center

U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III plans to introduce a bill today creating the National Russian Threat Response Center, a $20 million agency charged with snuffing out Russian hacking, Boston Herald reports.

It comes as a new report reveals hackers breached 39 state voting systems before the 2016 election and attempted to delete or alter voter data. In an interview with the Herald, Kennedy said he’s convinced Russian government intelligence agencies have engaged in “sustained, sophisticated attacks against the foundation of our democracy,” and will strike again.

“They do not target Democrats per se, they do not target Republicans per se — they target who they believe will stand up for American interests at the expense of Russian interests,” Kennedy said. “We need to make sure that systems are put in place to safeguard our voting systems and our electoral process.”

The proposed center would fall under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and will require agencies to share intel on Russian activity, a coordination Kennedy said was lacking before the election.