I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1465 
To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to work with cybersecurity 
consortia for training, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 9, 2017 
Mr. CASTRO of Texas (for himself, Mr. HURD, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. SMITH of 
Texas, and Mr. CUELLAR) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to work 
with cybersecurity consortia for training, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Cybersecurity 
Preparedness Consortium Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘consortium’’ means a group pri-
marily composed of nonprofit entities, including aca-
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demic institutions, that develop, update, and deliver 
cybersecurity training in support of homeland secu-
rity; 
(2) the terms ‘‘cybersecurity risk’’ and ‘‘inci-
dent’’ have the meanings given those terms in sec-
tion 227(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 148(a)); 
(3) the term ‘‘Department’’ means the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security; and 
(4) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 
of Homeland Security. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY PREPAREDNESS CON-
SORTIUM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may work with a 
consortium, including the National Cybersecurity Pre-
paredness Consortium, to support efforts to address cyber-
security risks and incidents, including threats of terrorism 
and acts of terrorism. 
(b) ASSISTANCE TO THE NCCIC.—The Secretary 
may work with a consortium to assist the national cyberse-
curity and communications integration center of the De-
partment (established under section 227 of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 148)) to— 
(1) provide training to State and local first re-
sponders and officials specifically for preparing for 
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and responding to cybersecurity risks and incidents, 
including threats of terrorism and acts of terrorism, 
in accordance with applicable law; 
(2) develop and update a curriculum utilizing 
existing programs and models in accordance with 
such section 227, for State and local first responders 
and officials, related to cybersecurity risks and inci-
dents, including threats of terrorism and acts of ter-
rorism; 
(3) provide technical assistance services to build 
and sustain capabilities in support of preparedness 
for and response to cybersecurity risks and inci-
dents, including threats of terrorism and acts of ter-
rorism, in accordance with such section 227; 
(4) conduct cross-sector cybersecurity training 
and simulation exercises for entities, including State 
and local governments, critical infrastructure owners 
and operators, and private industry, to encourage 
community-wide coordination in defending against 
and responding to cybersecurity risks and incidents, 
including threats of terrorism and acts of terrorism, 
in accordance with section 228(c) of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 149(c)); 
(5) help States and communities develop cyber-
security information sharing programs, in accord-
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ance with section 227 of the Homeland Security Act 
of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 148), for the dissemination of 
homeland security information related to cybersecu-
rity risks and incidents, including threats of ter-
rorism and acts of terrorism; and 
(6) help incorporate cybersecurity risk and inci-
dent prevention and response (including related to 
threats of terrorism and acts of terrorism) into ex-
isting State and local emergency plans, including 
continuity of operations plans. 
(c) PROHIBITION ON DUPLICATION.—In carrying out 
the functions under subsection (b), the Secretary shall, to 
the greatest extent practicable, seek to prevent unneces-
sary duplication of existing programs or efforts of the De-
partment. 
(d) CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING SELECTION OF A 
CONSORTIUM.—In selecting a consortium with which to 
work under this Act, the Secretary shall take into consid-
eration the following: 
(1) Any prior experience conducting cybersecu-
rity training and exercises for State and local enti-
ties. 
(2) Geographic diversity of the members of any 
such consortium so as to cover different regions 
throughout the United States. 
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(e) METRICS.—If the Secretary works with a consor-
tium under subsection (a), the Secretary shall measure the 
effectiveness of the activities undertaken by the consor-
tium under this Act. 
(f) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall conduct out-
reach to universities and colleges, including historically 
Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institu-
tions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other minor-
ity-serving institutions, regarding opportunities to support 
efforts to address cybersecurity risks and incidents, in-
cluding threats of terrorism and acts of terrorism, by 
working with the Secretary under subsection (a). 
(g) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out this 
Act shall terminate on the date that is five years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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