S.Amdt. 6321

1. Adds SEC. __. PILOT PROGRAM ON CYBERSECURITY TRAINING FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY SPOUSES wherever appropriate

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. __. PILOT PROGRAM ON CYBERSECURITY TRAINING FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY SPOUSES.

   Inserted: (a) Definitions.--In this section:

   Inserted: (1) Evidence-based; work-based learning.--The terms "evidence-based" and "work-based learning" have the meanings given those terms in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).

   Inserted: (2) 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).

   Inserted: (3) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term "recognized postsecondary credential" has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).

   Inserted: (4) Registered apprenticeship program.--The term "registered apprenticeship program" means an apprenticeship registered with the Office of Apprenticeship of the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor or a State apprenticeship agency recognized by the Office of the Apprenticeship pursuant to the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the "National Apprenticeship Act"; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.)

   Inserted: (5) Veteran.--The term "veteran" has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

   Inserted: (b) Establishment.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide cybersecurity training to eligible individuals described in subsection (d) at no cost to such individuals.

   Inserted: (c) Elements.--The cybersecurity training provided under the pilot program established under this section shall be evidence-based and include--

   Inserted: (1) coursework and training that, if applicable, qualifies for postsecondary credit toward an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate degree at an institution of higher education;

   Inserted: (2) virtual learning opportunities;

   Inserted: (3) hands-on learning and performance-based assessments;

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   Inserted: (4) Federal work-based learning opportunities and programs (which may include registered apprenticeship programs); and

   Inserted: (5) the provision of recognized postsecondary credentials to eligible individuals who complete the pilot program.

   Inserted: (d) Eligibility.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--To be eligible for the pilot program under this section, an individual shall be--

   Inserted: (A) a veteran who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 30, 32, 33, 34, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, United States Code;

   Inserted: (B) a member of an active or a reserve component of the Armed Forces who the Secretary of Homeland Security determines will become an eligible individual under subparagraph (A) within 180 days of the date of such determination; or

   Inserted: (C) an eligible spouse described in section 1784a(b) of title 10, United States Code.

   Inserted: (2) No charge to entitlement.--In the case of an individual described in paragraph (1)(A), training under this section shall be provided to the individual without charge to the entitlement of the individual to educational assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

   Inserted: (e) Alignment With NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity.--In carrying out the pilot program under this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure alignment with the taxonomy, including work roles and competencies and the associated tasks, knowledge, and skills, from the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NIST Special Publication 800-181, Revision 1), or successor framework.

   Inserted: (f) Coordination.--

   Inserted: (1) Training, platforms, and frameworks.--In developing the pilot program under this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 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 cybersecurity education and training to prevent duplication of efforts.

   Inserted: (2) Federal work-based learning opportunities and programs.--In developing the Federal work-based learning opportunities and programs required under subsection (c)(4), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies to identify or create, as necessary, interagency opportunities to provide participants in the pilot program with--

   Inserted: (A) opportunities to acquire and demonstrate skills and competencies; and

   Inserted: (B) the capabilities necessary to qualify for Federal employment in a cybersecurity work role.

   Inserted: (g) Resources.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--In any case in which the pilot program--

   Inserted: (A) uses training, platforms, and frameworks described in subsection (f)(1), the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall ensure that the trainings, platforms, and frameworks are expanded and resourced to accommodate usage by eligible individuals participating in the pilot program; or

   Inserted: (B) does not use training, platforms, and frameworks described in subsection (f)(1), the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the heads of other Federal agencies described in subsection (f), shall develop or procure training, platforms, and frameworks necessary to carry out the requirements of subsection (c) and accommodate the usage by eligible individuals participating in the pilot program.

   Inserted: (2) Actions.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security may provide additional funding, staff, or other resources to--

   Inserted: (A) recruit and retain women, underrepresented minorities, and individuals from other underrepresented communities;

   Inserted: (B) provide administrative support for basic functions of the pilot program;

   Inserted: (C) ensure the success and ongoing mentoring of eligible individuals participating in the pilot program;

   Inserted: (D) connect participants who complete the pilot program to cybersecurity job opportunities within the Federal Government; and

   Inserted: (E) allocate, if necessary, dedicated positions for term employment to enable Federal work-based learning opportunities and programs, as required under subsection (c)(4), for participants to gain the skills and the competencies necessary to pursue permanent Federal employment in a cybersecurity work role.

   Inserted: (h) Reports.--

   Inserted: (1) Secretary.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which the pilot program is established under this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program, which shall include--

   Inserted: (A) a description of--

   Inserted: (i) any activity carried out by the Department of Homeland Security under this section; and

   Inserted: (ii) the existing training, platforms, and frameworks of the Federal Government leveraged in accordance with subsection (f)(1); and

   Inserted: (B) an assessment of the results achieved by the pilot program, including--

   Inserted: (i) the admittance rate into the pilot program;

   Inserted: (ii) the employment status of individuals prior to participating in the pilot program, including the sector of employment and type of employer;

   Inserted: (iii) the demographics of participants in the pilot program, including representation of women, underrepresented minorities, and individuals from other underrepresented communities;

   Inserted: (iv) the completion rate for the pilot program, including if there are any identifiable patterns with respect to participants who do not complete the pilot program;

   Inserted: (v) as applicable, the transfer rates to other academic or vocational programs, and certifications and licensure exam passage rates;

   Inserted: (vi) the rate of continued employment within a Federal agency for participants after completing the pilot program;

   Inserted: (vii) the rate of continued employment for participants after completing the pilot program; and

   Inserted: (viii) the median annual salary of participants who completed the pilot program and were subsequently employed, disaggregated by the sector of employment and type of employer and compared to the median annual salary prior to participation in the pilot program.

   Inserted: (2) Comptroller general.--Not later than 4 years after the date on which the pilot program is established under this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program, including the recommendation of the Comptroller General with respect to whether the pilot program should be extended.

   Inserted: (i) Termination.--The authority to carry out the pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date on which the Secretary of Homeland Security establishes the pilot program under this section.

   Inserted: (j) Federal Cybersecurity 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".

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As printed