I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4743 
To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a National 
Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 15, 2016 
Mr. CASTRO of Texas (for himself, Mr. RICHMOND, Mr. HURD of Texas, Mr. 
DOGGETT, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. SMITH of Texas, and Mr. WELCH) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Home-
land Security 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish 
a National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium, 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 2016’’. 
SEC. 2. NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY PREPAREDNESS CON-
SORTIUM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity may establish a consortium to be known as the ‘‘Na-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:35 Mar 16, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4743.IH
H4743
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
tional Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium’’ (in this 
section referred to as the ‘‘Consortium’’). 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Consortium is to 
engage a range of academic, nonprofit, private industry, 
and Federal, State, and local government partners to sup-
port efforts to address cybersecurity risks and incidents 
(as such terms are defined in section 227 of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002), including threats of terrorism and 
acts of terrorism. 
(c) FUNCTIONS.—The Consortium may— 
(1) provide training to State and local first re-
sponders and officials specifically for preparing for 
and responding to cybersecurity risks and incidents 
(as such terms are defined in section 227 of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 148)), in-
cluding threats of terrorism and acts of terrorism, in 
accordance with current law; 
(2) develop and update a curriculum utilizing 
existing programs and models in accordance with 
section 227 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, 
for State and local first responders and officials, re-
lated to cybersecurity risks and incidents, including 
threats of terrorism and acts of terrorism; 
(3) provide technical assistance services to build 
and sustain capabilities in support of preparedness 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:35 Mar 16, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4743.IH
H4743
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
for and response to cybersecurity risks and inci-
dents, including threats of terrorism and acts of ter-
rorism, in accordance with section 227 of the Home-
land Security Act of 2002; 
(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 subsection (c) of section 228 of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 149); 
(5) coordinate with the national cybersecurity 
and communications integration center of the De-
partment of Homeland Security to help States and 
communities develop cybersecurity information shar-
ing programs, in accordance with section 227 of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002, for the dissemina-
tion of homeland security information related to cy-
bersecurity risks and incidents, including threats of 
terrorism and acts of terrorism; and 
(6) coordinate with appropriate Department of 
Homeland Security cybersecurity and training offi-
cials to assist in the incorporation of cybersecurity 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:35 Mar 16, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4743.IH
H4743
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
risk and incident prevention and response (including 
related to threats of terrorism and acts of terrorism) 
into existing State and local emergency plans. 
(d) PROHIBITION ON DUPLICATION.—In carrying out 
the functions under subsection (c), the Consortium may 
not duplicate existing programs or efforts. 
(e) MEMBERSHIP.—The Consortium shall consist of 
academic, nonprofit, industry, and government partners 
that develop, update, and deliver cybersecurity training in 
support of homeland security. Members shall have prior 
experience conducting cybersecurity training and exercises 
for State and local entities and shall be geographically di-
verse so as to cover different regions across the United 
States. 
(f) TERMINATION.—The Consortium shall terminate 
on the date that is five years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:35 Mar 16, 2016
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4743.IH
H4743
SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS