Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act of 2022

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, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6868) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for financial assistance to fund certain cybersecurity and infrastructure security education and training programs and

initiatives, 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, whenever you talk to experts working in cybersecurity, one of the first priorities they emphasize is how important it is to address the shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals. We can invest in the latest technology, but if we don't have the talent to implement cybersecurity practices, we will be left vulnerable.

There are many programs in the Federal Government designed to help address this problem, but one particularly essential one is the Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program, or CETAP. Operated by DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CETAP supports K-12 cybersecurity education across the country.

H.R. 6868 will strengthen this existing program by giving CISA the authority to provide grants to State and local governments, colleges and universities, and nonprofit organizations to carry out the program and help address the shortage of cybersecurity professionals in the United States.

The bill also includes an important amendment from Representative Jackson Lee to ensure that CISA reports to Congress on how these grants are supporting the cybersecurity education of women and underrepresented communities.

As we address our cyber workforce challenges, we must make sure that no groups are excluded from that effort.

I thank the sponsors of H.R. 6868, Representatives Garbarino and Titus, for their work on this bill. 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.

Mr. Speaker, expanding access to cybersecurity education in our K-12 schools will develop the next generation of cybersecurity professionals who have the knowledge needed to protect us in today's connected world.

CETAP has shown great success in addressing this challenge, and this bill will help us build on that progress.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6868, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 6868, the Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act of 2022.

Last year, cybersecurity authorities observed incidents involving ransomware in nearly every critical infrastructure sector. Given the rise of cyber threats to our country, it is more important now than ever that we grow an expert cyber workforce capable of defending Americans against nation-state actors, criminals, and other malicious cyber actors.

Research estimates a deficit of 3.1 million skilled cybersecurity professionals needed to perform this work and keep our country safe. There is a multitude of issues contributing to our cyber workforce shortage, which is particularly acute in the Federal sector. Lack of exposure, uneven education, and Federal agency onboarding issues all exacerbate the problem.

This is why it is more critical than ever to support efforts that deliver cybersecurity, STEM, and other computer science curricula and resources to our K-12 educators.

The Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act of 2022 enables the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, to award grants or other financial assistance for cybersecurity and infrastructure security training and education programs at the elementary and secondary education levels. The ability to offer financial support for this cyber training will enhance cybersecurity education to bolster the country's next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

I thank my colleague on the Homeland Security Committee, Representative Garbarino, for his consistent leadership on cybersecurity.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6868, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6868, the Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act of 2022, would authorize the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to award grants to states, local governments, and educational institutions for cybersecurity curriculum and educational tools.

The threat of cyberattacks from Russia and other foreign adversaries is more prevalent than ever. By incorporating cybersecurity into our school's curriculum, alongside core subjects like math and science, we will be able to bring up the next generation with a strong foundation to not only protect themselves individually from cybercrimes, but also to inspire greater participation in the cybersecurity workforce.

Cyber attacks are the next frontier in the great power competition with China and Russia and we must act now to mitigate this threat and build resilience throughout our citizenry.

I was pleased to work closely with the Cyber Innovation Center and CYBER.ORG to draft this legislation, and to have since received the support of the Center for Excellence in Education and other industry leaders. We all recognize the national security imperative that is cybersecurity literacy.

I am hopeful the House will pass this bipartisan legislation with broad support, and the Senate will act quickly to do the same, so we can begin to increase the cyber skills pipeline, recruit new students, and empower the future cyber workforce.

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