Lawmakers in Bipartisan Push for Crackdown on Cyber Thieves

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing legislation to punish cyber thieves backed by countries like China and Russia.

House Intelligence Chairman Mike Rogers and two other lawmakers - Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio - unveiled the legislation at a Capitol Hill news conference on Thursday. Their effort comes ahead of President Barack Obama's weekend meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The lawmakers said the cyber theft of American ingenuity costs U.S. jobs. They said Obama can use the legislation in his discussions with the Chinese leader.

The bill authorizes the administration to draw up a list of cyber spies. The measure would allow the U.S. to deny or revoke visas to foreign agents guilty of cybercrimes.