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Calendar No. 73 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 658 

[Report No. 117–24] 

To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to work with cybersecurity 

consortia for training, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 10, 2021 

Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. LEAHY, and Mr. BOOZMAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 

JUNE 14, 2021 

Reported by Mr. PETERS, without amendment 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to work 

with cybersecurity consortia for training, and for other 

purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Cybersecurity 

5 Preparedness Consortium Act of 2021’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act— 

3 (1) the term ‘‘consortium’’ means a group pri4 marily composed of nonprofit entities, including aca5 demic institutions, that develop, update, and deliver 

6 cybersecurity training in support of homeland secu7 rity; 

8 (2) the terms ‘‘cybersecurity risk’’ and ‘‘inci9 dent’’ have the meanings given those terms in sec10 tion 2209(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

11 (6 U.S.C. 659(a)); 

12 (3) the term ‘‘Department’’ means the Depart13 ment of Homeland Security; and 

14 (4) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

15 of Homeland Security. 

16 SEC. 3. NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY PREPAREDNESS CON17 SORTIUM. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may work with a 

19 consortium to support efforts to address cybersecurity 

20 risks and incidents. 

21 (b) ASSISTANCE TO THE NCCIC.—The Secretary 

22 may work with a consortium to assist the national cyberse23 curity and communications integration center of the De24 partment (established under section 2209 of the Home25 land Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 659)) to— 


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1 (1) provide training to State and local first re2 sponders and officials specifically for preparing for 

3 and responding to cybersecurity risks and incidents, 

4 in accordance with applicable law; 

5 (2) develop and update a curriculum utilizing 

6 existing programs and models in accordance with 

7 such section 2209, for State and local first respond8 ers and officials, related to cybersecurity risks and 

9 incidents; 

10 (3) provide technical assistance services to build 

11 and sustain capabilities in support of preparedness 

12 for and response to cybersecurity risks and inci13 dents, including threats of terrorism and acts of ter14 rorism, in accordance with such section 2209; 

15 (4) conduct cross-sector cybersecurity training 

16 and simulation exercises for entities, including State 

17 and local governments, critical infrastructure owners 

18 and operators, and private industry, to encourage 

19 community-wide coordination in defending against 

20 and responding to cybersecurity risks and incidents, 

21 in accordance with section 2210(c) of the Homeland 

22 Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 660(c)); 

23 (5) help States and communities develop cyber24 security information sharing programs, in accord25 ance with section 2209 of the Homeland Security 


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1 Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 659), for the dissemination 

2 of homeland security information related to cyberse3 curity risks and incidents; and 

4 (6) help incorporate cybersecurity risk and inci5 dent prevention and response into existing State and 

6 local emergency plans, including continuity of oper7 ations plans. 

8 (c) CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING SELECTION OF A

9 CONSORTIUM.—In selecting a consortium with which to 

10 work under this Act, the Secretary shall take into consid11 eration the following: 

12 (1) Any prior experience conducting cybersecu13 rity training and exercises for State and local enti14 ties. 

15 (2) Geographic diversity of the members of any 

16 such consortium so as to cover different regions 

17 throughout the United States. 

18 (d) METRICS.—If the Secretary works with a consor19 tium under subsection (a), the Secretary shall measure the 

20 effectiveness of the activities undertaken by the consor21 tium under this Act. 

22 (e) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall conduct out23 reach to universities and colleges, including historically 

24 Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institu25 tions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minorVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:47 Jun 14, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S658.RS S658

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1 ity-serving institutions, regarding opportunities to support 

2 efforts to address cybersecurity risks and incidents, by 

3 working with the Secretary under subsection (a). 

4 SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

5 Nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize 

6 a consortium to control or direct any law enforcement 

7 agency in the exercise of the duties of the law enforcement 

8 agency. 


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Calendar No. 73 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 658 

[Report No. 117–24] 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to 

and for other purposes. work with cybersecurity consortia for training, 

JUNE 14, 2021 

Reported without amendment 


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