Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Expansion Act
This bill establishes an apprenticeship program and a pilot program on cybersecurity.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency may establish one or more apprenticeship programs that lead directly to employment in
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall establish a pilot program under which the VA shall provide cyber-specific training for members of the Armed Forces transitioning from service in the Armed Forces to civilian life and veterans.
The bill extends through FY2025 the requirement for each federal agency to submit an annual report to the Office of Personnel Management that identifies information technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related work roles of critical need in the workforce of the agency.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6524 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 6524
To authorize the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency to establish an apprenticeship program and to establish
a pilot program on cybersecurity training for veterans and members of
the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 30, 2023
Ms. Houlahan (for herself, Mr. Gallagher, Mrs. Bice, and Mr. Moulton)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Education and
the Workforce, Oversight and Accountability, and Veterans' Affairs, for
a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency to establish an apprenticeship program and to establish
a pilot program on cybersecurity training for veterans and members of
the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Cybersecurity Workforce
Expansion Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the need for qualified cybersecurity personnel is
greater than ever, as demonstrated by the recent SolarWinds
breach and the growing spate of ransomware attacks on critical
infrastructure entities and State and local governments;
(2) the Federal Government is facing a shortage of
qualified cybersecurity personnel, as noted in a March 2019
Government Accountability Office report on critical staffing
needs in the Federal cybersecurity workforce;
(3) there is a national shortage of qualified cybersecurity
personnel, and according to CyberSeek, a project supported by
the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education within the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, there are
approximately 500,000 cybersecurity job openings around the
United States;
(4) in May 2021, the Department of Homeland Security
announced that the Department was initiating a 60-day sprint to
hire 200 cybersecurity personnel across the Department, with
100 of those hires for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency, to address a cybersecurity workforce shortage;
and
(5) the Federal Government needs to--
(A) expand the cybersecurity workforce pipeline of
the Federal Government to sustainably close a Federal
cybersecurity workforce shortage; and
(B) work cooperatively with the private sector and
State and local government authorities to expand
opportunities for new cybersecurity professionals.
SEC. 3. CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY APPRENTICESHIP
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subtitle A of title XXII of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 651 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 2220F. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Area career and technical education school.--The term
`area career and technical education school' has the meaning
given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
``(2) Community college.--The term `community college'
means a public institution of higher education at which the
highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an
associate's degree, including--
``(A) a 2-year Tribal College or University, as
defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c); and
``(B) a public 2-year State institution of higher
education.
``(3) Cybersecurity work roles.--The term `cybersecurity
work roles' means the work roles outlined in the National
Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Cybersecurity Workforce
Framework (NIST Special Publication 800-181), or any successor
framework.
``(4) Education and training provider.--The term `education
and training provider' means--
``(A) an area career and technical education
school;
``(B) an early college high school;
``(C) an educational service agency;
``(D) a high school;
``(E) a local educational agency or State
educational agency;
``(F) a Tribal educational agency, Tribally
controlled college or university, or Tribally
controlled postsecondary career and technical
institution;
``(G) a postsecondary educational institution;
``(H) a minority-serving institution;
``(I) a provider of adult education and literacy
activities under the Adult Education and Family
Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3271 et seq.);
``(J) a local agency administering plans under
title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
720 et seq.), other than section 112 or part C of that
title (29 U.S.C. 732, 741);
``(K) a related instruction provider, including a
qualified intermediary acting as a related instruction
provider as approved by a registration agency;
``(L) a Job Corps center, as defined in section 142
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3192); or
``(M) a consortium of entities described in any of
subparagraphs (A) through (L).
``(5) Eligible entity.--
``(A) In general.--The term `eligible entity'
means--
``(i) a program sponsor;
``(ii) a State workforce development board
or State workforce agency, or a local workforce
development board or local workforce
development agency;
``(iii) an education and training provider;
``(iv) if the applicant is in a State with
a State apprenticeship agency, such State
apprenticeship agency;
``(v) an Indian Tribe or Tribal
organization;
``(vi) an industry or sector partnership, a
group of employers, a trade association, or a
professional association that sponsors or
participates in a program under the national
apprenticeship system;
``(vii) a Governor of a State;
``(viii) a labor organization or joint
labor-management organization; or
``(ix) a qualified intermediary.
``(B) Sponsor requirement.--Not fewer than 1 entity
described in subparagraph (A) shall be the sponsor of a
program under the national apprenticeship system.
``(6) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
``(7) Local educational agency; secondary school.--The
terms `local educational agency' and `secondary school' have
the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
``(8) Local workforce development board.--The term `local
workforce development board' has the meaning given the term
`local board' in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
``(9) Nonprofit organization.--The term `nonprofit
organization' means an organization that is described in
section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt
from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
``(10) Provider of adult education.--The term `provider of
adult education' has the meaning given the term `eligible
provider' in section 203 of the Adult Education and Family
Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3272).
``(11) Related instruction.--The term `related instruction'
means an organized and systematic form of instruction designed
to provide an individual in an apprenticeship program with the
knowledge of the technical subjects related to the intended
occupation of the individual after completion of the program.
``(12) Sponsor.--The term `sponsor' means any person,
association, committee, or organization operating an
apprenticeship program and in whose name the program is, or is
to be, registered or approved.
``(13) State apprenticeship agency.--The term `State
apprenticeship agency' has the meaning given the term in
section 29.2 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, or any
corresponding similar regulation or ruling.
``(14) State workforce development board.--The term `State
workforce development board' has the meaning given the term
`State board' in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
``(15) WIOA terms.--The terms `career planning',
`community-based organization', `economic development agency',
`industry or sector partnership', `on-the-job training',
`recognized postsecondary credential', and `workplace learning
advisor' have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of
the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
``(16) Qualified intermediary.--
``(A) In general.--The term `qualified
intermediary' means an entity that demonstrates
expertise in building, connecting, sustaining, and
measuring the performance of partnerships described in
subparagraph (B) and serves program participants and
employers by--
``(i) connecting employers to programs
under the national apprenticeship system;
``(ii) assisting in the design and
implementation of such programs, including
curriculum development and delivery for related
instruction;
``(iii) supporting entities, sponsors, or
program administrators in meeting the
registration and reporting requirements of this
Act;
``(iv) providing professional development
activities such as training to mentors;
``(v) supporting the recruitment,
retention, and completion of potential program
participants, including nontraditional
apprenticeship populations and individuals with
barriers to employment;
``(vi) developing and providing
personalized program participant supports,
including by partnering with organizations to
provide access to or referrals for supportive
services and financial advising;
``(vii) providing services, resources, and
supports for development, delivery, expansion,
or improvement of programs under the national
apprenticeship system; or
``(viii) serving as a program sponsor.
``(B) Partnerships.--The term `partnerships
described in subparagraph (B)' means partnerships among
entities involved in, or applying to participate in,
programs under the national apprenticeship system,
including--
``(i) industry or sector partnerships;
``(ii) partnerships among employers, joint
labor-management organizations, labor
organizations, community-based organizations,
industry associations, State or local workforce
development boards, education and training
providers, social service organizations,
economic development organizations, Indian
Tribes or Tribal organizations, one-stop
operators, one-stop partners, or veterans
service organizations in the State workforce
development system; or
``(iii) partnerships among 1 or more of the
entities described in clauses (i) and (ii).
``(b) Establishment of Apprenticeship Programs.--Not later than 2
years after the date of enactment of this section, the Director may
establish 1 or more apprenticeship programs as described in subsection
(c).
``(c) Apprenticeship Programs Described.--An apprenticeship program
described in this subsection is an apprenticeship program that--
``(1) leads directly to employment in--
``(A) a cybersecurity work role with the Agency; or
``(B) a position with a company or other entity
provided that the position is--
``(i) certified by the Director as
contributing to the national cybersecurity of
the United States; and
``(ii) funded at least in majority part
through a contract, grant, or cooperative
agreement with the Agency;
``(2) is focused on competencies and related learning
necessary, as determined by the Director, to meet the immediate
and ongoing needs of cybersecurity work roles at the Agency;
and
``(3) is registered with and approved by the Office of
Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor or a State
apprenticeship agency pursuant to the Act of August 16, 1937
(commonly known as the `National Apprenticeship Act'; 29 U.S.C.
50 et seq.).
``(d) Coordination.--In the development of an apprenticeships
program under this section, the Director shall consult with the
Secretary of Labor, the Director of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology, the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the National
Science Foundation, and the Director of the Office of Personnel
Management to leverage existing resources, research, communities of
practice, and frameworks for developing cybersecurity apprenticeship
programs.
``(e) Optional Use of Grants or Cooperative Agreements.--An
apprenticeship program under this section may include entering into a
contract or cooperative agreement with or making a grant to an eligible
entity if determined appropriate by the Director based on the eligible
entity--
``(1) demonstrating experience in implementing and
providing career planning and career pathways toward
apprenticeship programs;
``(2) having knowledge of cybersecurity workforce
development;
``(3) being eligible to enter into a contract or
cooperative agreement with or receive grant funds from the
Agency as described in this section;
``(4) providing students who complete the apprenticeship
program with a recognized postsecondary credential;
``(5) using related instruction that is specifically
aligned with the needs of the Agency and utilizes workplace
learning advisors and on-the-job training to the greatest
extent possible; and
``(6) demonstrating successful outcomes connecting
graduates of the apprenticeship program to careers relevant to
the program.
``(f) Applications.--If the Director enters into an arrangement as
described in subsection (e), an eligible entity seeking a contract,
cooperative agreement, or grant under the program shall submit to the
Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Director may require.
``(g) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities to receive a
contract, grant, or cooperative agreement under this section, the
Director may prioritize an eligible entity that--
``(1) is a member of an industry or sector partnership;
``(2) provides related instruction for an apprenticeship
program through--
``(A) a local educational agency, a secondary
school, a provider of adult education, an area career
and technical education school, or an institution of
higher education; or
``(B) an apprenticeship program that was registered
with the Department of Labor or a State apprenticeship
agency before the date on which the eligible entity
applies for the grant under subsection (g);
``(3) works with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, or veterans organizations to transition
members of the Armed Forces and veterans to apprenticeship
programs in a relevant sector; or
``(4) plans to use the grant to carry out the
apprenticeship program with an entity that receives State
funding or is operated by a State agency.
``(h) Technical Assistance.--The Director shall provide technical
assistance to eligible entities to leverage the existing job training
and education programs of the Agency and other relevant programs at
appropriate Federal agencies.
``(i) Excepted Service.--Participants in the program may be entered
into cybersecurity-specific excepted service positions as determined
appropriate by the Director and authorized by section 2208.
``(j) Report.--
``(1) In general.--Not less than once every 2 years after
the establishment of an apprenticeship program under this
section, the Director shall submit to Congress a report on the
program, including--
``(A) a description of--
``(i) any activity carried out by the
Agency under this section;
``(ii) any entity that enters into a
contract or agreement with or receives a grant
from the Agency under subsection (e);
``(iii) any activity carried out using a
contract, agreement, or grant under this
section as described in subsection (e); and
``(iv) best practices used to leverage the
investment of the Federal Government under this
section; and
``(B) an assessment of the results achieved by the
program, including the rate of continued employment at
the Agency for participants after completing an
apprenticeship program carried out under this section.
``(k) Performance Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the
establishment of an apprenticeship program under this section, and
annually thereafter, the Director shall submit to Congress and the
Secretary of Labor a report on the effectiveness of the program based
on the accountability measures described in clauses (i) and (ii) of
section 116(b)(2)(A) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(29 U.S.C. 3141(b)(2)(A)).
``(l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Agency such sums as necessary to carry out this
section.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 2220E the following new item:
``Sec. 2220F. Apprenticeship program.''.
SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM ON CYBER TRAINING FOR VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE
ARMED FORCES TRANSITIONING TO CIVILIAN LIFE.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible individual.--The term ``eligible individual''
means an individual who is--
(A) a member of the Armed Forces transitioning from
service in the Armed Forces to civilian life; or
(B) a veteran.
(2) Portable credential.--The term ``portable
credential''--
(A) means a documented award by a responsible and
authorized entity that has determined that an
individual has achieved specific learning outcomes
relative to a given standard; and
(B) includes a degree, diploma, license,
certificate, badge, and professional or industry
certification that--
(i) has value locally and nationally in
labor markets, educational systems, or other
contexts;
(ii) is defined publicly in such a way that
allows educators, employers, and other
individuals and entities to understand and
verify the full set of skills represented by
the credential; and
(iii) enables a holder of the credential to
move vertically and horizontally within and
across training and education systems for the
attainment of other credentials.
(3) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given
the term in section 101 of title 31, United States Code.
(4) Work-based learning.--The term ``work-based learning''
has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C.
2302).
(b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
establish a pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide
cyber-specific training for eligible individuals.
(c) Elements.--The pilot program established under subsection (b)
shall incorporate--
(1) virtual platforms for coursework and training;
(2) hands-on skills labs and assessments;
(3) Federal work-based learning opportunities and programs;
and
(4) the provision of portable credentials to eligible
individuals who graduate from the pilot program.
(d) Alignment With NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity.--The
pilot program established under subsection (b) shall align with the
taxonomy, including work roles and associated tasks, knowledge, and
skills, from the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education
Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NIST Special Publication 800-
181), or any successor framework.
(e) Coordination.--
(1) Training, platforms, and frameworks.--In developing the
pilot program under subsection (b), the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall coordinate with the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Labor, and the
Director of the Office of Personnel Management to evaluate and,
where possible, leverage existing training, platforms, and
frameworks of the Federal Government for providing cyber
education and training to prevent duplication of efforts.
(2) Federal work-based learning opportunities and
programs.--In developing the Federal work-based learning
opportunities and programs required under subsection (c)(3),
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall coordinate with the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the
Secretary of Labor, the Director of the Office of Personnel
Management, and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies
to identify or create interagency opportunities that will
enable the pilot program established under subsection (b) to--
(A) bridge the gap between knowledge acquisition
and skills application for participants; and
(B) give participants the experience necessary to
pursue Federal employment.
(f) Resources.--
(1) In general.--In any case in which the pilot program
established under subsection (b)--
(A) uses a program of the Department of Veterans
Affairs or platforms and frameworks described in
subsection (e)(1), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure
that those programs, platforms, and frameworks are
expanded and resourced to accommodate usage by eligible
individuals participating in the pilot program; or
(B) does not use a program of the Department of
Veterans Affairs or platforms and frameworks described
in subsection (e)(1), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall take such actions as may be necessary to develop
or procure programs, platforms, and frameworks
necessary to carry out the requirements of subsection
(c) and accommodate the usage by eligible individuals
participating in the pilot program.
(2) Actions.--Actions described in paragraph (1) may
include providing additional funding, staff, or other resources
to--
(A) provide administrative support for basic
functions of the pilot program;
(B) ensure the success and ongoing engagement of
eligible individuals participating in the pilot
program;
(C) connect graduates of the pilot program to job
opportunities within the Federal Government; and
(D) allocate dedicated positions for term
employment to enable Federal work-based learning
opportunities and programs for participants to gain the
experience necessary to pursue permanent Federal
employment.
SEC. 5. FEDERAL WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT EXTENSION.
Section 304(a) of the Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment
Act of 2015 (5 U.S.C. 301 note) is amended, in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``2022'' and inserting ``2025''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection.
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Oversight and Accountability, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Oversight and Accountability, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Oversight and Accountability, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, Oversight and Accountability, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
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