Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act of 2024

Bill: 118-hr-8469
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
Introduced: 2024-05-21
Policy area: Labor and Employment
Latest action: action_date: 2024-05-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8469 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2024 Ms. Brown (for herself, Ms. Stevens , Ms. Adams , Mrs. Beatty , Ms. Brownley , Mr. Carson , Mr. Carter of Louisiana , Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick , Mr. Clyburn , Ms. Crockett , Mr. Evans , Mrs. Foushee , Mrs. Hayes , Ms. Norton , Mr. Horsford , Mr. Jackson of Illinois , Mr. Larsen of Washington , Ms. Lee of California , Mr. Lieu , Mr. Lynch , Mr. McGovern , Ms. Moore of Wisconsin , Mr. Mrvan , Ms. Kelly of Illinois , Ms. Plaskett , Mrs. Ramirez , Ms. Sewell , Mr. Thompson of Mississippi , Ms. Tokuda , Ms. Velázquez , Ms. Wasserman Schultz , Mrs. Watson Coleman , Ms. Williams of Georgia , and Mr. Bishop of Georgia ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To establish in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security a program to promote the cybersecurity field to disadvantaged communities, including older individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, geographically diverse communities, socioeconomically diverse communities, women, individuals from nontraditional educational paths, individuals who are veterans, and individuals who were formerly incarcerated, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act of 2024 . 2. Expansion of CISA’s Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security shall establish within the Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program of the Agency a program (in this section referred to as the Program ) to promote the cybersecurity field to disadvantaged communities, including older individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, geographically diverse communities, socioeconomically diverse communities, women, individuals from nontraditional educational paths, individuals who are veterans, and individuals who were formerly incarcerated. (b) Outreach To carry out subsection (a) and promote awareness of the Program, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security shall conduct outreach to different institutions to raise awareness of and promote the cybersecurity workforce, including to educators, unions, chambers of commerce, State and local workforce development offices, private sector entities, community colleges, parents of K-12 students, and other institutions as the Director determines appropriate. (c) Applicability The Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security shall tailor the Program to the unique needs of each region and sector across the United States. (d) Annual reports Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the efficacy of the Program, including how the Program is impacting the general characteristics of the cyber workforce throughout the United States, and suggestions for Congress regarding how to improve the Program. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter through 2030. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Disability The term disability means an intellectual or developmental disability. (2) Geographically diverse The term geographically diverse means that the participants should be represented as close as possible to an equal spread of high-density urban areas, suburban areas, and rural areas of the United States or over-represent low-income communities. (3) Nontraditional educational path The term nontraditional educational path means a graduate of any of the following: (A) A two year degree program, trade school, or community college. (B) A historically Black college or university; (C) A Hispanic-serving institution (as such term is defined in section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1101a(a) )). (D) A Tribal College or University (as such term is defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b) )). (E) An Alaska Native-serving institution (as such term is defined in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059d(b) )). (F) A Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as such term is defined in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059d(b) )). (G) A Predominantly Black Institution (as such term is defined in section 318(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059e(b) )). (H) A Native American-serving, nontribal institution (as such term is defined in section 319(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059f(b) )). (I) An Asian-American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution (as such term is defined in section 320(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1059g(b) )). (4) Older The term older means an individual who has attained the age of 40 or older as of the date on which such individual is scheduled to begin participation in the Program. (5) Racial and ethnic minority The term racial and ethnic minority means Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American, or Native American. (6) Socioeconomically diverse The term socioeconomically diverse means a spread of income levels, including low-income individuals.