President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6824) to authorize the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security to hold an annual cybersecurity competition relating to offensive and defensive cybersecurity disciplines, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, before I begin debate on today's legislation, I will take a moment to acknowledge the tragic, bloody events of this weekend in Milwaukee, Buffalo, and Orange County, California. The loss of life and extent of injury to innocent people, as we all know, are staggering.

These incidents are all under investigation but, from a homeland security perspective, I will zero in, in particular, on the events in New York where we have, I think, a fairly good picture of what motivated a man to gun down innocent people, an event that has happened too many times in recent history in our country.

This young man clearly was motivated by an idea, a hateful idea and a racist idea, and one that is sadly familiar to us. It is the same idea that motivated another man to gun down African Americans in Charleston, South Carolina. It is the same idea that motivated yet another man to gun down Hispanic Americans in El Paso, Texas. It is the same idea that motivated another man to gun down Jewish Americans in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

It is an idea that spreads on the internet. But it doesn't just spread organically. Social media companies write algorithms deliberately designed to connect people who are susceptible to this hateful idea to others who may be propagating it. It is an idea that sadly is sometimes amplified and legitimized by political leaders and media personalities in our country.

We have a domestic terrorism problem in America. We all understand that on the Homeland Security Committee. If this problem was coming from outside the United States, it would be easy for us to come together to deal with it.

Imagine if after the September 11 attacks there were cable news hosts who night after night propagated ideas straight from al-Qaida's propaganda materials. We wouldn't tolerate it. Nobody would for one moment think that was acceptable in the United States of America. But because it is a domestic problem rooted in our own society, it is harder. We have to find a way to come together, nonetheless.

I think there are two kinds of leaders in America today, not Democrat, Republican, liberal, or conservative. There are leaders who, when they see a fire burning, they reach for a bucket of water to put it out. And there are leaders who, when they see a fire burning, reach for a can of gasoline to make that fire burn even more. We desperately need leaders in this country, of both political parties, who will try to calm things down and who will tamp down these horrible, hateful ideas, whether they are coming from the left or the right, wherever they are coming from, because these ideas are leading to people being gunned down in our country. It is unacceptable, and it has to stop.

Mr. Speaker, let's turn to the legislation before us today.

Mr. Speaker, as a nation, we are fortunate to have so many dedicated public servants who work for our Federal Government and help keep us safe. Unfortunately, they frequently go without the recognition they deserve for their hard work. The President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act authorizes an innovative prize competition where cyber talent within the ranks of Federal departments and agencies is honored.

Today, it is critical to our homeland and national security that the Federal Government attract, develop, and retain dedicated and talented employees to carry out cybersecurity and cyber defense activities. It is not lost on me that, by choosing to work for the government rather than the private sector, these in-demand professionals often forgo more lucrative career opportunities.

H.R. 6824 would authorize the cyber competition that CISA hosts and ensure that financial awards can be provided to the winning individuals and teams in recognition of their achievement. In the short period of time that the President's Cup has been around, it has become a much- sought-after prize among talented Federal cyber practitioners, many of whom are civilians or active military. By permanently authorizing this competition, Congress can ensure that it remains a vital part of our strategy to identify, retain, and reward the best cybersecurity talent in the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Representative Luria for her leadership in authoring this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition has been an important part of our strategy to support a strong Federal cybersecurity workforce in recent years. Unfortunately, without congressional authorization, it lacks the stability it needs. So thanks to this legislation, authored by my committee colleague, Representative Luria, we have the opportunity to authorize and preserve a key retention tool in the Federal toolbox to ensure that talented Federal cyber professionals get the recognition they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6824, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that we are closing out the Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support for 23 important measures to make our communities more secure and improve Department of Homeland Security operations in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.

I am particularly pleased that we were able to reach agreement on the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act to expand and strengthen this vital program so that more nonprofits and houses of worship can access security assistance at this time of heightened threats of violent extremism and terrorism. With antisemitic and other violent threats on the rise, it is clear this legislation is needed now more than ever.

I also want to thank Ranking Member John Katko, as he retires from Congress, for his contributions to the Homeland Security Committee and his critical support throughout this process for the Committee's bipartisan package found in Division G of the NDAA.

While the package reflects the contributions of so many of my colleagues, l would like to give special acknowledgment to Congresswoman Val Demings who championed the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act. This legislation directs DHS to explore ways to provide needed bridge funding to cities to preserve homeland security capability gains accomplished through the Urban Area Security Initiative grant program when they no longer receive such funding.

With respect to cybersecurity, I am pleased that we were able to reach agreement on bipartisan provisions that originated in the Committee on Homeland Security. They include Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin's legislation to reauthorize the Secret Service's National Computer Forensics Institute, Congresswoman Elaine Luria's bill to authorize DHS's President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition, and legislation authored by Congressman Eric Swalwell aimed at improving DHS's cybersecurity training to protect industrial control systems.

While I am enormously proud of the bipartisan homeland security provisions that were included, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge my disappointment that we were not able to reach agreement with the Senate on amending the law to treat TSA's workforce like most other Federal employees or authorize the vital work of DHS's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. We will continue to seek an agreement on these critical measures.

Lastly, I am particularly proud that the NDAA honors my late friend, Congressman A. Donald McEachin, by including his bill, the DHS Mentor- Protege Program Act, to help small businesses better compete for DHS contracts. It is a fitting tribute to my friend that we came together to pass a bill to open doors of opportunity to small businesses-- something that he was passionate about doing.

Mr. Speaker, the full list of Homeland Security Committee measures that will be enacted by this year's NOAA is as follows:

H.R. 6825, the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Improvement Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS).

H.R. 5615, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act, sponsored by Rep. Val Butler Demings (D-FL).

H.R. 6387, the School and Daycare Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. (D-NJ).

H.R. 8801, the DHS Joint Task Force Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA) and S. 4656, the DHS Joint Task Forces Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Sen. Gary C. Peters (D-MI).

H.R. 2915, the Homeland Procurement Reform Act, sponsored by Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA) and S. 1009, the Homeland Procurement Reform Act, sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

H.R. 6824, the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act, sponsored by Rep. Elaine G. Luria (D-VA).

H.R. 7777, the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Training Act, sponsored by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA).

H.R. 7174, the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and S. 4673, the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

H.R. 5574, the TSA Reaching Across Nationalities, Societies, and Languages to Advance Traveler Education Act (``TRANSLATE Act''), sponsored by Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) and S. 3296, the TSA Reaching Across Nationalities, Societies, and Languages to Advance Traveler Education Act (``TRANSLATE Act''), sponsored by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-

Mr. Speaker, a critical element of strengthening our nation's cybersecurity is ensuring the Federal government employs the best and the brightest with the most advanced cybersecurity skills.

Whether at CISA, our intelligence agencies, our military, or at other departments across the Federal government, cybersecurity professionals play an essential role in keeping our nation safe, and we must prioritize their recruitment, development, and retention.

Unfortunately, it has been challenging to compete with the private sector for cyber talent, so we must look to creative ways to strengthen the Federal cyber workforce.

The President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition is one innovative part of that effort.

Organized by CISA, this annual cybersecurity competition brings together cybersecurity professionals, both civilian and military, from across the Federal government to compete in a series of challenges that test a wide range of cybersecurity skills.

My legislation would authorize this competition to ensure it remains part of our Federal cyber workforce strategy and grants CISA the necessary authorities to fully carry out the program.

Importantly, it addresses legal barriers that have prevented CISA from directly providing cash prizes to winning teams and individuals that work in other departments or agencies.

H.R. 6824 specifically authorizes CISA to confer cash prizes to the winners, many of whom are in the military, for their achievement.

By passing this legislation, we demonstrate our commitment to further developing a competitive and highly skilled Federal cybersecurity workforce.

I thank Representatives Connolly and Garbarino for cosponsoring this bill, and Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Katko for their support for authorizing this important program.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan bill and look forward to working with them to get it enacted into law.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6824, the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act.

Mr. Speaker, you merely have to turn on the news to hear about the latest ransomware problem that continues to vex our country. According to research funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, there is a deficit of almost half a million cybersecurity employees in the U.S. Now more than ever, it is critical that the Federal Government provide cybersecurity education and pathways to Federal employment and make Federal retention of this limited skill set a priority.

One very important effort is underpinned by the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act. CISA launched the first President's Cup Cybersecurity Act in 2019, as a national cybersecurity competition for both individuals and teams, aiming to identify, challenge, and reward the best cybersecurity talent in the Federal workforce.

This bill grants CISA the authority to fully implement the cybersecurity competition with certain parameters and provide prizes to winning individuals and teams. By codifying the cybersecurity competition, we further incentivize a skilled cybersecurity workforce. We also signal that Congress is committed to addressing Federal cybersecurity recruitment and retention challenges.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6824, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.