Small Business Cyber Training Act of 2022

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1687) to amend section 21 of the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill before us today, S. 1687, the Small Business Cyber Training Act of 2022.

The House passed its companion bill, H.R. 4515, the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act on November 2, 2021.

S. 1687, would establish a cyber counseling certification program for lead SBDC staff to provide specific, free-of-charge cyber training for small businesses.

As more businesses utilize the internet for social media advertising, payment systems, and global markets, more of them become vulnerable to cyberattacks. The cyber disruptions can destroy IT systems and derail operations, sometimes forcing the business to shut down.

Cyberattack damage is not just limited to the IT systems; it can also erode customers' trust and tarnish a business' reputation.

With that said, a recent SBA survey found that 88 percent of small business owners felt their business was vulnerable to a cyberattack, but reported that they couldn't afford professional IT solutions, have limited time to devote to cybersecurity, or just do not know where to begin.

Given the greater risk cyberattacks pose to small businesses and their limited capacity to protect against them, we must find ways to help entrepreneurs strengthen their cybersecurity posture. The SBA and SBDCs are ready, willing, and able to fill these gaps.

Under this legislation, lead SBDCs would be required to provide cyber training and resources and facilitate cybersecurity investments that are typically too expensive for small businesses.

S. 1687 makes minor technical changes to the House passed bill and were agreed upon by all stakeholders. I thank our House leaders, Mr. Garbarino, Mr. Evans, Ms. Houlahan, and Mr. Chabot, who have been true advocates on this issue. I applaud their commitment to helping small business owners protect their livelihood from destructive cyberattacks.

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

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

The use of digital tools dramatically increased during the pandemic, even here in Congress; and the massive shift to remote work has resulted in a significant rise in cybersecurity threats and attacks.

Guarding against cyberattacks often comes with significant costs and a substantial investment of time and resources. Unfortunately, small businesses operating on thin margins have fewer resources to dedicate to cybersecurity.

S. 1687 ensures that the Nation's 62 lead SBDCs are fully equipped to assist small businesses with their cybersecurity needs at no cost. The bill would eliminate the primary obstacle of investment costs and make cybersecurity mitigation easier to adopt.

This bill is a commonsense solution to complex problems. I urge my colleagues to support S. 1687, the Small Business Cyber Training Act of 2022, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the House Amendment to S. 1687, the Small Business Cyber Training Act of 2022.

All businesses, regardless of size or available resources, are susceptible to cyber threats. If large businesses can become victims of cybercrimes, small businesses are even more vulnerable.

This bipartisan legislation directs Small Business Development Centers, SBDCs, to provide training to thwart potential attacks and educate small businesses on the most up-to-date cybersecurity practices. With over 1,000 local centers nationwide, SBDCs are well- positioned to assist small businesses with their cybersecurity needs.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Garbarino for his leadership on this issue and commitment to enhancing Missouri's economic competitiveness and cyber resiliency.

I also thank my counterparts in the Senate for their work on this legislation.

S. 1687 passed the Senate in September, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill we have before us today that does not include unneeded reimbursement provisions included in the final form.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

S. 1687, as amended, takes important steps to prepare small businesses to combat cybersecurity threats.

This bipartisan bill to expand services at Small Business Development

Centers will ensure small businesses have the resources necessary to create a cybersecurity plan and detect cyber risks.

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

Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 504, I mistakenly voted ``yes'' when I intended to vote ``no.''

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Baird (Bucshon)

Bass (Cicilline)

Beatty (Neguse)

Brooks (Fleischmann)

Cole (Lucas)

DeFazio (Pallone)

Demings (Blunt Rochester)

Doyle, Michael F. (Pallone)

Duncan (Norman)

Dunn (Cammack)

Frankel, Lois (Meng)

Gallego (Cicilline)

Gosar (Weber (TX))

Gottheimer (Pappas)

Grijalva (Neguse)

Herrera Beutler (Moore (UT))

Johnson (TX) (Pallone)

Kildee (Pappas)

Kirkpatrick (Pallone)

Lieu (Beyer)

Lowenthal (Beyer)

Moore (WI) (Beyer)

Newman (Correa)

O'Halleran (Pappas)

Palazzo (Fleischmann)

Pascrell (Pallone)

Pressley (Neguse)

Rice (NY) (Morelle)

Roybal-Allard (Correa)

Ruppersberger (Sarbanes)

Ryan (OH) (Correa)

Simpson (Fulcher)

Sires (Pallone)

Stanton (Huffman)

Steube (Franklin, C. Scott)

Titus (Pallone)

Welch (Pallone)

Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate the message to accompany S. 1687.

The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message from the House of Representatives:

Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 1687) entitled

``An Act to amend section 21 of the Small Business Act to

require cyber certification for small business development

center counselors, and for other purposes.'', do pass with an

amendment.

Motion to Concur

I move to concur in the House amendment, and I ask unanimous consent that the motion be agreed to and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 393, S. 1687.

I further ask that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to.

I ask that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.

Finally, I ask that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.