[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2256 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 255
118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2256

                          [Report No. 118-117]

   To authorize the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
Security Agency to establish an apprenticeship program and to establish 
 a pilot program on cybersecurity training for veterans and members of 
    the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 12, 2023

Ms. Hassan (for herself and Mr. Cornyn) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
                        and Governmental Affairs

                           November 30, 2023

                Reported by Mr. Peters, with amendments
  [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To authorize the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
Security Agency to establish an apprenticeship program and to establish 
 a pilot program on cybersecurity training for veterans and members of 
    the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Cybersecurity Workforce 
Expansion Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the need for qualified cybersecurity personnel is 
        greater than ever, as demonstrated by the recent SolarWinds 
        breach and the growing spate of ransomware attacks on critical 
        infrastructure entities and State and local governments;
            (2) the Federal Government is facing a shortage of 
        qualified cybersecurity personnel, as noted in a March 2019 
        Government Accountability Office report on critical staffing 
        needs in the Federal cybersecurity workforce;
            (3) there is a national shortage of qualified cybersecurity 
        personnel, and according to CyberSeek, a project supported by 
        the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education within the 
        National Institute of Standards and Technology, there are 
        approximately 500,000 cybersecurity job openings around the 
        United States;
            (4) in May 2021, the Department of Homeland Security 
        announced that the Department was initiating a 60 day sprint to 
        hire 200 cybersecurity personnel across the Department, with 
        100 of those hires for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
        Security Agency, to address a cybersecurity workforce shortage; 
        and
            (5) the Federal Government needs to--
                    (A) expand the cybersecurity workforce pipeline of 
                the Federal Government to sustainably close a Federal 
                cybersecurity workforce shortage; and
                    (B) work cooperatively with the private sector and 
                State and local government authorities to expand 
                opportunities for new cybersecurity professionals.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Homeland Security.
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Homeland Security.

SEC. 4. CYBERSECURITY APPRENTICESHIP PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Area career and technical education school.--The term 
        ``area career and technical education school'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
        Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
            (2) Community college.--The term ``community college'' 
        means a public institution of higher education at which the 
        highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an 
        associate's degree, including--
                    (A) a 2-year Tribal College or University, as 
                defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c); and
                    (B) a public 2-year State institution of higher 
                education.
            (3) Competitive service.--The term ``competitive service'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 2102 of title 5, 
        United States Code.
            (4) Cyber workforce position.--The term ``cyber workforce 
        position'' means a position identified as having information 
        technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related functions 
        under section 303 of the Federal Cybersecurity Workforce 
        Assessment Act of 2015 (5 U.S.C. 301 note).
            (5) Early college high school; educational service agency; 
        local educational agency; secondary school; state educational 
        agency.--The terms ``early college high school'', ``educational 
        service agency'', ``local educational agency'', ``secondary 
        school'', and ``State educational agency'' have the meanings 
        given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (6) Education and training provider.--The term ``education 
        and training provider'' means--
                    (A) an area career and technical education school;
                    (B) an early college high school;
                    (C) an educational service agency;
                    (D) a high school;
                    (E) a local educational agency or State educational 
                agency;
                    (F) a Tribal educational agency (as defined in 
                section 6132 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7452)), Tribally controlled 
                college or university (as defined in section 2(a) of 
                the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities 
                Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801(a)) ), or 
                Tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical 
                institution (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. 
                Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 
                U.S.C. 2302));
                    (G) a postsecondary educational institution, as 
                defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
                Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302);
                    (H) a minority-serving institution;
                    (I) a provider of adult education and literacy 
                activities under the Adult Education and Family 
                Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3271 et seq.);
                    (J) a local agency administering plans under title 
                I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 720 et 
                seq.), other than section 112 or part C of that title 
                (29 U.S.C. 732, 741);
                    (K) a related instruction provider, including a 
                qualified intermediary acting as a related instruction 
                provider as approved by a registration agency;
                    (L) a Job Corps center, as defined in section 142 
                of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 
                U.S.C. 3192), provided that the participation of the 
                Job Corps center is consistent with the outcomes for 
                Job Corps students described in section 141 of that Act 
                (29 U.S.C. 3191);
                    (M) a YouthBuild program, as defined in section 
                171(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act 
                (29 U.S.C. 3226(b)); or
                    (N) a consortium of entities described in any of 
                subparagraphs (A) through (M).
            (7) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a sponsor;
                    (B) a State workforce development board or State 
                workforce agency, or a local workforce development 
                board or local workforce development agency;
                    (C) an education and training provider;
                    (D) a State apprenticeship agency;
                    (E) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization;
                    (F) an industry or sector partnership, a group of 
                employers, a trade association, or a professional 
                association that sponsors or participates in a program 
                under the national apprenticeship system;
                    (G) a Governor of a State;
                    (H) a labor organization or joint labor-management 
                organization; or
                    (I) a qualified intermediary.
            (8) Excepted service.--The term ``excepted service'' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 2103 of title 5, United 
        States Code.
            (9) Local workforce development board.--The term ``local 
        workforce development board'' has the meaning given the term 
        ``local board'' in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (10) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
        serving institution'' means an institution of higher education 
        described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
            (11) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit 
        organization'' means an organization that is described in 
        section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt 
        from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
            (12) Provider of adult education.--The term ``provider of 
        adult education'' has the meaning given the term ``eligible 
        provider'' in section 203 of the Adult Education and Family 
        Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3272).
            (13) Qualified intermediary.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``qualified 
                intermediary'' means an entity that demonstrates 
                expertise in building, connecting, sustaining, and 
                measuring the performance of partnerships described in 
                subparagraph (B) and serves program participants and 
                employers by--
                            (i) connecting employers to programs under 
                        the national apprenticeship system;
                            (ii) assisting in the design and 
                        implementation of such programs, including 
                        curriculum development and delivery for related 
                        instruction;
                            (iii) supporting entities, sponsors, or 
                        program administrators in meeting the 
                        registration and reporting requirements of this 
                        Act section;
                            (iv) providing professional development 
                        activities such as training to mentors;
                            (v) supporting the recruitment, retention, 
                        and completion of potential program 
                        participants, including nontraditional 
                        apprenticeship populations and individuals with 
                        barriers to employment;
                            (vi) developing and providing personalized 
                        program participant supports, including by 
                        partnering with organizations to provide access 
                        to or referrals for supportive services and 
                        financial advising;
                            (vii) providing services, resources, and 
                        supports for development, delivery, expansion, 
                        or improvement of programs under the national 
                        apprenticeship system; or
                            (viii) serving as a sponsor.
                    (B) Partnerships.--The term ``partnerships 
                described in subparagraph (B)'' means partnerships 
                among entities involved in, or applying to participate 
                in, programs under the national apprenticeship system, 
                including--
                            (i) industry or sector partnerships;
                            (ii) partnerships among employers, joint 
                        labor-management organizations, labor 
                        organizations, community-based organizations, 
                        industry associations, State or local workforce 
                        development boards, education and training 
                        providers, social service organizations, 
                        economic development agencies, Indian Tribes or 
                        Tribal organizations, one-stop operators, one-
                        stop partners, or veterans service 
                        organizations in the State workforce 
                        development system; or
                            (iii) partnerships among 1 or more of the 
                        entities described in clause (i) or (ii).
            (14) Related instruction.--The term ``related instruction'' 
        means an organized and systematic form of instruction designed 
        to provide an individual in an apprenticeship program with the 
        knowledge of the technical subjects related to the intended 
        occupation of the individual after completion of the program.
            (15) Sponsor.--The term ``sponsor'' means any person, 
        association, committee, or organization operating an 
        apprenticeship program and in whose name the program is, or is 
        to be, registered or approved.
            (16) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 
        U.S.C. 101).
            (17) State apprenticeship agency.--The term ``State 
        apprenticeship agency'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 29.2 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, or any 
        corresponding similar regulation or ruling.
            (18) State workforce development board.--The term ``State 
        workforce development board'' has the meaning given the term 
        ``State board'' in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (19) WIOA terms.--The terms ``career planning'', ``career 
        pathway'', ``community-based organization'', ``economic 
        development agency'', ``industry or sector partnership'', ``on-
        the-job training'', ``one-stop operator'', ``one-stop 
        partner'', ``recognized postsecondary credential'', and 
        ``workplace learning advisor'' have the meanings given those 
        terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 
        Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
    (b) Establishment of Apprenticeship Pilot Program.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an 
        apprenticeship pilot program.
            (2) Requirements.--The apprenticeship pilot program 
        established under paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) employ pilot program participants in cyber 
                workforce positions within the Department;
                    (B) employ not more than 25 new pilot program 
                participants during each year during which the pilot 
                program is carried out;
                    (C) be intended to lead to employment in a cyber 
                workforce position within a Federal agency;
                    (D) focus on related learning necessary, as 
                determined by the Secretary in consultation with the 
                Director of the Office of Personnel Management and 
                based upon the National Initiative for Cybersecurity 
                Education Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NIST 
                Special Publication 800-181, Revision 1), or successor 
                framework, to meet the immediate and ongoing needs of 
                cyber workforce positions within Federal agencies;
                    (E) be registered with and approved by the Office 
                of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor or a State 
                apprenticeship agency pursuant to the Act of August 16, 
                1937 (commonly known as the ``National Apprenticeship 
                Act''; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.);
                    (F) be approved by the Secretary of Veterans 
                Affairs, pursuant to chapter 36 of title 38, United 
                States Code, or other applicable provisions of law, as 
                eligible for educational assistance to veterans; and
                    (G) be sponsored by the Department or an eligible 
                entity receiving a contract, cooperative agreement, or 
                grant under subsection (d).
    (c) Coordination.--In the development of the apprenticeship pilot 
program under this section, the Secretary shall consult with the 
Secretary of Labor, the Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the National 
Science Foundation, and the Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management to leverage existing resources, research, communities of 
practice, and frameworks for developing cybersecurity apprenticeship 
programs.
    (d) Optional Use of Contracts, Cooperative Agreements, or Grants.--
The apprenticeship pilot program under this section may include 
entering into a contract or cooperative agreement with or making a 
grant to an eligible entity if determined appropriate by the Secretary 
based on the eligible entity--
            (1) demonstrating experience in implementing and providing 
        career planning and career pathways toward apprenticeship 
        programs;
            (2) having knowledge of cybersecurity workforce 
        development;
            (3) being eligible to enter into a contract or cooperative 
        agreement with or receive grant funds from the Department as 
        described in this section;
            (4) providing participants who complete the apprenticeship 
        pilot program with 1 or more recognized postsecondary 
        credentials;
            (5) using related instruction that is specifically aligned 
        with the needs of Federal agencies and utilizes workplace 
        learning advisors and on-the-job training to the greatest 
        extent possible; and
            (6) demonstrating successful outcomes connecting 
        participants in apprenticeship programs to careers relevant to 
        the apprenticeship pilot program.
    (e) Applications.--If the Secretary enters into an arrangement as 
described in subsection (d), an eligible entity seeking a contract, 
cooperative agreement, or grant under the pilot program shall submit to 
the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    (f) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities to receive a 
contract, cooperative agreement, or grant under subsection (d), the 
Secretary may prioritize an eligible entity that--
            (1) is a member of an industry or sector partnership that 
        sponsors or participates in a program under the national 
        apprenticeship system;
            (2) provides related instruction for an apprenticeship 
        program that was registered with the Department of Labor or a 
        State apprenticeship agency before the date on which the 
        eligible entity applies for the contract, cooperative 
        agreement, or grant under subsection (e);
            (3) works with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs, or veterans organizations to transition 
        members of the Armed Forces and veterans to apprenticeship 
        programs in a relevant sector;
            (4) plans to use the contract, cooperative agreement, or 
        grant to carry out the apprenticeship pilot program under this 
        section with an entity that receives State funding or is 
        operated by a State agency;
            (5) has successfully increased the representation in 
        cybersecurity of women, underrepresented minorities, and 
        individuals from other underrepresented communities; or
            (6) focuses on recruiting women, underrepresented 
        minorities, and individuals from other underrepresented 
        communities.
    (g) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall provide technical 
assistance to eligible entities that receive a contract, cooperative 
agreement, or grant under subsection (d) to leverage the existing job 
training and education programs of the Department and other relevant 
programs at appropriate Federal agencies.
    (h) Service Agreement for Pilot Program Participants.--
            (1) In general.--Participants in the apprenticeship pilot 
        program under this section shall enter into an agreement to, 
        after completion of the apprenticeship pilot program and if 
        offered employment in a cyber workforce position within a 
        Federal agency post-apprenticeship, accept and continue 
        employment in such cyber workforce position for a period of 
        obligated service equal to the length of service in a position 
        under the apprenticeship pilot program by the participant.
            (2) Repayment for period of unserved obligated service.--If 
        a participant in the apprenticeship pilot program under this 
        section fails to satisfy the requirements of the service 
        agreement entered into under paragraph (1) for a reason other 
        than involuntary separation, the participant shall repay the 
        cost of any education and training provided to the participant 
        as a part of the apprenticeship pilot program, reduced by the 
        ratio of the period of obligated service completed divided by 
        the total period of obligated service.
            (3) Exception.--The Secretary may provide for the partial 
        or total waiver or suspension of any service or payment 
        obligation by an individual under this subsection if the 
        Secretary determines that compliance by the individual with the 
        obligation is impossible or would involve extreme hardship to 
        the individual, or if enforcement of such obligation with 
        respect to the individual would be unconscionable.
    (i) Apprenticeship Hiring Authority.--Participants in the 
apprenticeship pilot program under this section may be appointed to 
cybersecurity-specific positions in the excepted service as determined 
appropriate by the Secretary and authorized by section 2208 of the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 658).
    (j) Post-Apprenticeship Hiring Authority.--Pursuant to subsection 
(b)(2) (B) (C), a participant who successfully completes the 
apprenticeship pilot program under this section may be appointed to a 
cyber workforce position in the excepted service for which the 
participant is qualified.
    (k) Post-Apprenticeship Trial Period.--Federal service following 
participation in the apprenticeship pilot program under this section 
shall be subject to completion of a trial period in accordance with any 
applicable law, Executive order, rule, or regulation.
    (l) Report.--
            (1) Secretary.--Not later than 2 years after the date on 
        which the apprenticeship pilot program is established under 
        this section, and annually thereafter, the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Director of 
        the Office of Personnel Management, shall submit to Congress a 
        report on the pilot program, including--
                    (A) a description of--
                            (i) any activity carried out by the 
                        Department under this section;
                            (ii) any entity that enters into a contract 
                        or cooperative agreement with or receives a 
                        grant from the Department under subsection (d);
                            (iii) any activity carried out using a 
                        contract, cooperative agreement, or grant under 
                        this section as described in subsection (d); 
                        and
                            (iv) best practices used to leverage the 
                        investment of the Federal Government under this 
                        section; and
                    (B) an assessment of the results achieved by the 
                pilot program, including--
                            (i) the rate of continued employment within 
                        a Federal agency for participants after 
                        completing the pilot program;
                            (ii) the demographics of participants in 
                        the pilot program, including representation of 
                        women, underrepresented minorities, and 
                        individuals from other underrepresented 
                        communities;
                            (iii) the completion rate for the pilot 
                        program, including if there are any 
                        identifiable patterns with respect to 
                        participants who do not complete the pilot 
                        program; and
                            (iv) the return on investment for the pilot 
                        program.
            (2) Comptroller general.--Not later than 4 years after the 
        date on which the apprenticeship pilot program is established 
        under this section, the Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program, 
        including the recommendation of the Comptroller General with 
        respect to whether the pilot program should be extended.
    (m) Termination.--The authority to carry out the apprenticeship 
pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is 5 
years after the date on which the Secretary establishes the 
apprenticeship pilot program under this section.

SEC. 5. PILOT PROGRAM ON CYBERSECURITY TRAINING FOR VETERANS AND 
              MILITARY SPOUSES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible individual.--The term ``eligible individual'' 
        means an individual who is--
                    (A) a veteran who is entitled to educational 
                assistance under chapter 30, 32, 33, 34, or 35 of title 
                38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of 
                title 10, United States Code;
                    (B) a member of the active or a reserve component 
                of the Armed Forces that the Secretary of Veterans 
                Affairs determines will become an eligible individual 
                under subparagraph (A) within 180 days of such 
                determination, provided that if the individual does 
                anything to make themselves ineligible during the 180-
                day period, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
                require the individual to repay any benefits received 
                under this section; or
                    (C) an eligible spouse described in section 
                1784a(b) of title 10, United States Code.
            (2) Recognized postsecondary credential.--The term 
        ``recognized postsecondary credential'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and 
        Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
            (3) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
            (4) Work-based learning.--The term ``work-based learning'' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. 
        Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 
        2302).
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish a pilot program to 
provide cybersecurity training at no cost to eligible individuals.
    (c) Elements.--The pilot program established under subsection (b) 
shall incorporate--
            (1) coursework and training that, if applicable, qualifies 
        for postsecondary credit toward an associate or baccalaureate 
        degree at an institution of higher education;
            (2) virtual learning opportunities;
            (3) hands-on learning and performance-based assessments;
            (4) Federal work-based learning opportunities and programs; 
        and
            (5) the provision of recognized postsecondary credentials 
        to eligible individuals who complete the pilot program.
    (d) Alignment With NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity.--The 
pilot program established under subsection (b) shall align with the 
taxonomy, including work roles and competencies and the associated 
tasks, knowledge, and skills, from the National Initiative for 
Cybersecurity Education Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NIST 
Special Publication 800-181, Revision 1), or successor framework.
    (e) Coordination.--
            (1) Training, platforms, and frameworks.--In developing the 
        pilot program under subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
        coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the 
        Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, the Director of 
        the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the 
        Director of the Office of Personnel Management to evaluate and, 
        where possible, leverage existing training, platforms, and 
        frameworks of the Federal Government for providing 
        cybersecurity education and training to prevent duplication of 
        efforts.
            (2) Existing educational assistance.--In developing the 
        pilot program under subsection (b), the Secretary shall 
        coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure 
        that, to the greatest extent possible, eligible individuals can 
        utilize educational assistance under chapter 30, 32, 33, 34, or 
        35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of 
        title 10, United States Code, or other educational assistance 
        available to eligible individuals, such as the high technology 
        pilot program described in section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery 
        Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (38 U.S.C. 3001 
        note), while participating in the program.
            (3) Federal work-based learning opportunities and 
        programs.--In developing the Federal work-based learning 
        opportunities and programs required under subsection (c)(4), 
        the Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, the 
        Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and the heads 
        of other appropriate Federal agencies to identify or create, as 
        necessary, interagency opportunities that will enable the pilot 
        program established under subsection (b) to--
                    (A) allow the participants to acquire and 
                demonstrate competencies; and
                    (B) give participants the capabilities necessary to 
                qualify for Federal employment.
    (f) Resources.--
            (1) In general.--In any case in which the pilot program 
        established under subsection (b)--
                    (A) uses training, platforms, and frameworks 
                described in subsection (e)(1), the Secretary, in 
                coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
                shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure 
                that the trainings, platforms, and frameworks are 
                expanded and resourced to accommodate usage by eligible 
                individuals participating in the pilot program; or
                    (B) does not use training, platforms, and 
                frameworks described in subsection (e)(1), the 
                Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of 
                Veterans Affairs, shall take such actions as may be 
                necessary to develop or procure training, platforms, 
                and frameworks necessary to carry out the requirements 
                of subsection (c) and accommodate the usage by eligible 
                individuals participating in the pilot program.
            (2) Actions.--Actions described in paragraph (1) may 
        include providing additional funding, staff, or other resources 
        to--
                    (A) recruit and retain women, underrepresented 
                minorities, and individuals from other underrepresented 
                communities;
                    (B) provide administrative support for basic 
                functions of the pilot program;
                    (C) ensure the success and ongoing engagement of 
                eligible individuals participating in the pilot 
                program;
                    (D) connect participants who complete the pilot 
                program to job opportunities within the Federal 
                Government; and
                    (E) allocate dedicated positions for term 
                employment to enable Federal work-based learning 
                opportunities and programs, as required under 
                subsection (c)(4), for participants to gain the 
                competencies necessary to pursue permanent Federal 
                employment.
    (g) Reports.--
            (1) Secretary.--Not later than 2 years after the date on 
        which the pilot program is established under subsection (b), 
        and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
        a report on the pilot program, including--
                    (A) a description of--
                            (i) any activity carried out by the 
                        Department under this section; and
                            (ii) the existing training, platforms, and 
                        frameworks of the Federal Government leveraged 
                        in accordance with subsection (e)(1); and
                    (B) an assessment of the results achieved by the 
                pilot program, including--
                            (i) the admittance rate into the pilot 
                        program;
                            (ii) the demographics of participants in 
                        the program, including representation of women, 
                        underrepresented minorities, and individuals 
                        from other underrepresented communities;
                            (iii) the completion rate for the pilot 
                        program, including if there are any 
                        identifiable patterns with respect to 
                        participants who do not complete the pilot 
                        program;
                            (iv) as applicable, the transfer rates to 
                        other academic or vocational programs, and 
                        certifications and licensure exam passage 
                        rates;
                            (v) the rate of continued employment within 
                        a Federal agency for participants after 
                        completing the pilot program;
                            (vi) the rate of continued employment for 
                        participants after completing the pilot 
                        program; and
                            (vii) the median annual salary of 
                        participants who completed the pilot program 
                        and were subsequently employed.
            (2) Comptroller general.--Not later than 4 years after the 
        date on which the pilot program is established under subsection 
        (b), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 
        to Congress a report on the pilot program, including the 
        recommendation of the Comptroller General with respect to 
        whether the pilot program should be extended.
    (h) Termination.--The authority to carry out the pilot program 
under this section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after 
the date on which the Secretary establishes the pilot program under 
this section.

SEC. 6. FEDERAL CYBERSECURITY WORKFORCE ASSESSMENT EXTENSION.

    Section 304(a) of the Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment 
Act of 2015 (5 U.S.C. 301 note) is amended, in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1), by striking ``2022'' and inserting ``2027''.
                                                       Calendar No. 255

118th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 2256

                          [Report No. 118-117]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To authorize the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
Security Agency to establish an apprenticeship program and to establish 
 a pilot program on cybersecurity training for veterans and members of 
    the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           November 30, 2023

                        Reported with amendments