WASHINGTON, D.C.--An executive order said by President Obama to strengthen America's cyber defenses, was signed before the State of the Union address Tuesday. Obama said the order will increase information sharing and develop standards to protect financial institutions, the country's power grid and other components of our velnerable infrastructure that could be attacked by hackers.

One of Mississippi's Congressmen is reacting positively to the measure.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, the state's lone Democrat representative in Washington, told News Mississippi the president is building a framework between the public and privated sector to ensure that the "critical infrastructure that keeps our country safe and secure is properly shielded from malicious cyber activity".

Thompson is the ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

"Though we all recognize that legislation will still be required to provide the strongest mechanisms for securing critical infrastructure, I commend Pres. Obama for taking this important step towards improving our nation's cyber security. The next step must be a legislative solution from Congress, and I urge the leaders in the House to act on this as soon as possible," he said.

"We cannot look back years from now and wonder why we did nothing in the face of real threats to our security and economy," said Obama in his speech.

Thompson also told media he commends the president for comments on minimum wage possibly being raised to $9 per hour.