National Defense Cybersecurity Consortia Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2234
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced: 2019-07-23
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Advisory bodies

Computer security and identity theft

Department of Defense

Higher education

Public-private cooperation
Latest action: action_date: 2019-07-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-07-23
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>National Defense Cybersecurity Consortia Act of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish one or more consortia, comprising certain universities, to advise and assist on matters relating to cybersecurity. DOD must establish procedures for organizations within DOD to access such expertise.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2234 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 23, 2019 Mr. Rounds (for himself and Mr. Peters ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To establish a consortia of universities to advise the Secretary of Defense on cybersecurity matters, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Defense Cybersecurity Consortia Act of 2019 . 2. Consortia of universities to advise Secretary of Defense on cybersecurity matters (a) Establishment The Secretary of Defense shall establish one or more consortia to advise and assist the Secretary on matters relating to cybersecurity. (b) Membership The consortium or consortia established under subsection (a) shall consist of universities that have been designated as centers of academic excellence by the Director of the National Security Agency or the Secretary of Homeland Security. (c) Organization (1) Designation of administrative chair and terms For each consortium established under subsection (a), the Secretary, based on recommendations from the members of the consortium, shall designate one member of the consortium to function as an administrative chair of the consortium for a term with a specific duration specified by the Secretary. (2) Subsequent terms No member of a consortium designated under paragraph (1) may serve as the administrative chair of that consortium for two consecutive terms. (3) Duties of administrative chair Each administrative chair designated under paragraph (1) for a consortium shall— (A) act as the leader of the consortium for the term specified by the Secretary under paragraph (1); (B) be the liaison between the consortium and the Secretary; (C) distribute requests from the Secretary for advice and assistance to appropriate members of the consortium and coordinate responses back to the Secretary; and (D) act as a clearinghouse for Department of Defense requests relating to advice and assistance on matters relating to cybersecurity and to provide feedback to the Secretary from members of the consortium. (d) Functions The functions of a consortium established under subsection (a) are as follows: (1) To provide to the Secretary access to the expertise of the members of the consortium on matters relating to cybersecurity. (2) To align the efforts of such members in support of the Department. (3) To act as a facilitator in responding to Department requests relating to advice and assistance on matters relating to cybersecurity and to provide feedback to the Secretary from members of the consortium. (e) Procedures The Secretary shall establish procedures for organizations within the Department to access the work product produced by and the research, capabilities, and expertise of a consortium established under subsection (a) and the universities that constitute the consortium.