Cybersecurity Opportunity Act

To enhance cybersecurity education. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cybersecurity Opportunity Act 2. Dr. David Satcher cybersecurity education grant program (a) Authorization of grants The Secretary of Homeland Security shall— (1) award grants to assist public institutions of higher education that have an enrollment of needy students (as defined in section 312(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1058(d) (2) award grants for a 5-year pilot period to build capacity to public institutions of higher education that have an enrollment of needy students (as defined in section 312(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1058(d) (b) Applications An eligible institution seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary of Homeland Security at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including a statement of how the institution will use the funds awarded through the grant to expand cybersecurity education opportunities at the eligible institution. (c) Activities An eligible institution that receives a grant under this section may use the funds awarded through such grant for increasing research, education, technical, partnership, and innovation capacity, including for— (1) building and upgrading institutional capacity to better support new or existing cybersecurity programs, including cybersecurity partnerships with public and private entities; and (2) building and upgrading institutional capacity to provide hands-on research and training experiences for undergraduate and graduate students. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cybersecurity Opportunity Act 2. Dr. David Satcher cybersecurity education grant program (a) Definitions In this Act: (1) Enrollment of needy students The term enrollment of needy students 20 U.S.C. 1058(d) (2) Historically black college or university The term historically Black college or university part B institution 20 U.S.C. 1061 (3) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) (4) Minority-serving institution The term minority-serving institution 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) (5) Secretary The term Secretary (b) Authorization of grants (1) In general The Secretary shall— (A) award grants to assist institutions of higher education that have an enrollment of needy students, historically Black colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions, to establish or expand cybersecurity programs, to build and upgrade institutional capacity to better support new or existing cybersecurity programs, including cybersecurity partnerships with public and private entities, and to support such institutions on the path to producing qualified entrants in the cybersecurity workforce or becoming a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity; and (B) award grants to build capacity at institutions of higher education that have an enrollment of needy students, historically Black colleges and universities, and minority-serving institutions, to expand cybersecurity education opportunities, cybersecurity technology and programs, cybersecurity research, and cybersecurity partnerships with public and private entities. (2) Reservation The Secretary shall award not less than 50 percent of the amount available for grants under this Act to historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions. (3) Coordination The Secretary shall carry out this section in coordination with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (4) Sunset The Secretary's authority to award grants under paragraph (1) shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date the Secretary first awards a grant under paragraph (1). (5) Amounts to remain available Notwithstanding section 1552 of title 31, United States Code, or any other provision of law, funds available to the Secretary for obligation for a grant under this section shall remain available for expenditure for 100 days after the last day of the performance period of such grant. (c) Applications An eligible institution seeking a grant under subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including a statement of how the institution will use the funds awarded through the grant to expand cybersecurity education opportunities at the eligible institution. (d) Activities An eligible institution that receives a grant under this section may use the funds awarded through such grant for increasing research, education, technical, partnership, and innovation capacity, including for— (1) building and upgrading institutional capacity to better support new or existing cybersecurity programs, including cybersecurity partnerships with public and private entities; (2) building and upgrading institutional capacity to provide hands-on research and training experiences for undergraduate and graduate students; and (3) outreach and recruitment to ensure students are aware of such new or existing cybersecurity programs, including cybersecurity partnerships with public and private entities. (e) Reporting requirements Not later than— (1) 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the Secretary submits the report under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report on the status and progress of implementation of the grant program under this Act, including on the number and nature of institutions participating, the number and nature of students served by institutions receiving grants, the level of funding provided to grant recipients, the types of activities being funded by the grants program, and plans for future implementation and development; and (2) 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report on the status of cybersecurity education programming and capacity-building at institutions receiving grants under this Act, including changes in the scale and scope of these programs, associated facilities, or in accreditation status, and on the educational and employment outcomes of students participating in cybersecurity programs that have received support under this Act. (f) Performance metrics The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish performance metrics for grants awarded under this section. January 20, 2022 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Cybersecurity Opportunity Act This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to award grants to specified institutions of higher education for establishing or expanding cybersecurity education programs and opportunities. Eligible institutions include minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities, and grant recipients may use the funds to increase research, education, technical, partnership, and innovation capacity for cybersecurity programs, research, and training experiences.