The revised bill also adds a provision that would require the President to provide clearances for private sector executives to access classified information relating to cyber-threats.

In addition, the bill would require the White House to collaborate with private sector companies to identify the best cybersecurity training programs.

One of the most important changes in the newly introduced bill, however, is a provision that has been deleted. It would have given the President new authority to essentially disconnect government and private sector organizations from the Internet in a declared emergency.

The President would have the power to declare security emergencies and then curtail or shut down Internet traffic to and from any compromised federal or critical infrastructure networks.

The inclusion of the provision in the original version of the Rockerfeller-Snowe bill attracted widespread criticism from many, who saw it as a measure that would give the President unfettered authority over private-sector networks.