IC 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 658 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 6, 2021 

Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 

AN ACT 

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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

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

3 Preparedness Consortium Act of 2021’’. 

4 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

5 In this Act— 

6 (1) the term ‘‘consortium’’ means a group pri7 marily composed of nonprofit entities, including aca8 demic institutions, that develop, update, and deliver 

9 cybersecurity training in support of homeland secu10 rity; 

11 (2) the terms ‘‘cybersecurity risk’’ and ‘‘inci12 dent’’ have the meanings given those terms in sec13 tion 2209(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 

14 (6 U.S.C. 659(a)); 

15 (3) the term ‘‘Department’’ means the Depart16 ment of Homeland Security; and 

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

18 of Homeland Security. 

19 SEC. 3. NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY PREPAREDNESS CON20 SORTIUM. 

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

22 consortium to support efforts to address cybersecurity 

23 risks and incidents. 

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

25 may work with a consortium to assist the national cyberse26 curity and communications integration center of the DeVerDate Sep 11 2014 20:46 Aug 06, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S658.RFH S658

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1 partment (established under section 2209 of the Home2 land Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 659)) to— 

3 (1) provide training to State and local first re4 sponders and officials specifically for preparing for 

5 and responding to cybersecurity risks and incidents, 

6 in accordance with applicable law; 

7 (2) develop and update a curriculum utilizing 

8 existing programs and models in accordance with 

9 such section 2209, for State and local first respond10 ers and officials, related to cybersecurity risks and 

11 incidents; 

12 (3) provide technical assistance services to build 

13 and sustain capabilities in support of preparedness 

14 for and response to cybersecurity risks and inci15 dents, including threats of terrorism and acts of ter16 rorism, in accordance with such section 2209; 

17 (4) conduct cross-sector cybersecurity training 

18 and simulation exercises for entities, including State 

19 and local governments, critical infrastructure owners 

20 and operators, and private industry, to encourage 

21 community-wide coordination in defending against 

22 and responding to cybersecurity risks and incidents, 

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

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


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1 (5) help States and communities develop cyber2 security information sharing programs, in accord3 ance with section 2209 of the Homeland Security 

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

5 of homeland security information related to cyberse6 curity risks and incidents; and 

7 (6) help incorporate cybersecurity risk and inci8 dent prevention and response into existing State and 

9 local emergency plans, including continuity of oper10 ations plans. 

11 (c) CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING SELECTION OF A

12 CONSORTIUM.—In selecting a consortium with which to 

13 work under this Act, the Secretary shall take into consid14 eration the following: 

15 (1) Any prior experience conducting cybersecu16 rity training and exercises for State and local enti17 ties. 

18 (2) Geographic diversity of the members of any 

19 such consortium so as to cover different regions 

20 throughout the United States. 

21 (d) METRICS.—If the Secretary works with a consor22 tium under subsection (a), the Secretary shall measure the 

23 effectiveness of the activities undertaken by the consor24 tium under this Act. 


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1 (e) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall conduct out2 reach to universities and colleges, including historically 

3 Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institu4 tions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minor5 ity-serving institutions, regarding opportunities to support 

6 efforts to address cybersecurity risks and incidents, by 

7 working with the Secretary under subsection (a). 

8 SEC. 4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

9 Nothing in this Act may be construed to authorize 

10 a consortium to control or direct any law enforcement 

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

12 agency. 

Passed the Senate July 15, 2021. 

Attest: SONCERIA ANN BERRY, 

Secretary. 


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