---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 677a"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "677a"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/677a"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter XVIII — Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency"
  - "Part C — Declaration of a Significant Incident"
---

# §677a. Definitions


For the purposes of this part:

- (1) **Asset response activity—** The term “asset response activity” means an activity to support an [entity](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2) impacted by an [incident](/usc/6/650.md?p=12) with the response to, remediation of, or recovery from, the [incident](/usc/6/650.md?p=12), including—
  - (A) furnishing technical and advisory assistance to the [entity](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2) to protect the [assets](/usc/6/101.md?p=3) of the [entity](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2), mitigate vulnerabilities, and reduce the related impacts;
  - (B) assessing potential risks to the [critical infrastructure](/usc/6/101.md?p=4) sector or geographic region impacted by the [incident](/usc/6/650.md?p=12), including potential cascading effects of the [incident](/usc/6/650.md?p=12) on other [critical infrastructure sectors](/usc/6/601.md?p=3) or geographic regions;
  - (C) developing courses of action to mitigate the risks assessed under [subparagraph (B)](#1-B);
  - (D) facilitating information [sharing](/usc/6/650.md?p=26) and operational coordination with [entities](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2) performing threat response activities; and
  - (E) providing guidance on how best to use Federal resources and capabilities in a timely, effective manner to speed recovery from the [incident](/usc/6/650.md?p=12).
- (2) **Declaration—** The term “declaration” means a declaration of the [Secretary](/usc/6/641.md?p=3) under [section 677b(a)(1) of this title](/usc/6/677b.md?p=a-1).
- (3) **Director—** The term “[Director](/usc/6/650.md?p=10)” means the [Director](/usc/6/650.md?p=10) of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security [Agency](/usc/6/650.md?p=1).
- (4) **Federal agency—** The term “Federal agency” has the meaning given the term “[agency](/usc/6/650.md?p=1)” in [section 3502 of title 44](/usc/44/3502.md).
- (5) **Fund—** The term “Fund” means the Cyber Response and Recovery Fund established under [section 677c(a) of this title](/usc/6/677c.md?p=a).
- (6) **Incident—** The term “[incident](/usc/6/650.md?p=12)” has the meaning given the term in [section 3552 of title 44](/usc/44/3552.md).
- (7) **Renewal—** The term “renewal” means a renewal of a [declaration](#2) under [section 677b(d) of this title](/usc/6/677b.md?p=d).
- (8) **Significant incident—** The term “significant incident”—
  - (A) means an [incident](/usc/6/650.md?p=12) or a group of related [incidents](/usc/6/650.md?p=12) that results, or is likely to result, in demonstrable harm to—
    - (i) the national security interests, foreign relations, or economy of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A); or
    - (ii) the public confidence, civil liberties, or public health and safety of the people of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A); and
  - (B) does not include an [incident](/usc/6/650.md?p=12) or a portion of a group of related [incidents](/usc/6/650.md?p=12) that occurs on—
    - (i) a [national security system](/usc/6/650.md?p=21) (as defined in [section 3552 of title 44](/usc/44/3552.md)); or
    - (ii) an [information system](/usc/6/650.md?p=14) described in paragraph (2) or (3) of [section 3553(e) of title 44](/usc/44/3553.md?p=e).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title XXII, § 2232, as added Pub. L. 117–58, div. G, title VI, § 70602(a), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1267.)