[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 98 (Monday, June 28, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H4880-H4882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CYBER DEFENSE COMPETITION
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1244) recognizing the National Collegiate Cyber
Defense Competition for its now five-year effort to promote cyber
security curriculum in institutions of higher learning, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1244
Whereas, on February 27, 2004, and Februray 28, 2004, a
group of educators, students, and government and industry
representatives gathered in San Antonio, Texas, to gauge the
interest in and support for the establishment of regular
cyber security exercises for postsecondary students;
Whereas stakeholders in the cyber security profession
sought to create a cyber security exercise template for
universities nationwide, and to encourage educational
institutions to offer students practical experience in
information assurance;
Whereas in an effort to develop a regular, national-level
cyber security exercise, the Center for Infrastructure
Assurance and Security at the University of Texas at San
Antonio agreed to host the first Collegiate Cyber Defense
Competition (CCDC) for the Southwestern region in April 2005;
Whereas the mission of the CCDC system is to provide
institutions with an information assurance or computer
security curriculum in a controlled, competitive environment
to assess the student's depth of understanding and
operational competency in managing the challenges inherent in
protecting corporate network infrastructure and business
information systems;
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Whereas the CCDC has attracted participation from
institutions of higher education from across the United
States;
Whereas 2010 regional competition hosts include Southwest
host Texas A&M University, North Central host Dakota State
University, Northeast host University of Maine, Pacific Rim
co-hosts University of Washington and Highline Community
College, Midwest co-hosts Inver Hills Community College and
Moraine Valley Community College, Mid-Atlantic host Community
College of Baltimore County, Southeast host Kennesaw State
University, and West Coast host California State Polytechnic
University, Pomona;
Whereas 2010 regional competition winners include Towson
University, DePaul University, Montana Tech of the University
of Montana, Northeastern University, University of
Washington, Texas A&M University, University of Louisville,
and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; and
Whereas the furtherance and development of cyber security
academic programs in institutions of higher education will
help meet the rapidly growing demand for cyber security
specialists in the public and private sectors: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the
National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for its now
five-year effort to promote cyber security curriculum in
institutions of higher learning.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.
General Leave
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House
Resolution 1244 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
There was no objection.
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of House Resolution 1244, which recognizes
the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for their 5-year
effort to promote cyber security curriculum at institutions of higher
education. Their dedication and commitment to cyber security
instruction serves an important purpose as computer and Internet
software continue their vital role in our digital world.
In February of 2004, a group of educators, students, and government
and industry representatives in cyber defense gathered in San Antonio,
Texas, to address the growing need for cyber security education for
post-secondary students. These individuals understood the growing
importance of, and the world's increasing reliance, on computer and
Internet software, as well as the national security interest in
protecting this vital infrastructure. From the gathering in San
Antonio, the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition was born.
The competition provides students the opportunity to improve their
understanding and operational competency in protecting corporate
network infrastructure and business information systems. For the past 5
years, the competition has offered computer security curriculum to
students at institutions of higher education across the United States.
Many teams participated in this year's regional competition with
winners including Towson University, DePaul University, Montana Tech,
Northeastern University, University of Washington, Texas A&M
University, University of Louisville, and California State Polytechnic
University at Pomona. Students from these universities learned many
skills and their education will help meet the rapidly growing demand
for cyber security specialists in the public and private sectors.
{time} 1415
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Rodriguez for introducing
this resolution.
Once again, I express my support for House Resolution 1244, which
recognizes the importance of the National Collegiate Cyber Defense
Competition and its contribution to our Nation's cyber security
curriculum.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mrs. BIGGERT. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1244,
recognizing the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for its
5-year effort to promote cyber security curriculum in institutions of
higher education.
In April of 2005, the University of Texas at San Antonio held the
first Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, or CCDC, for the
Southwestern region. The CCDC focuses on the operational aspects of
managing and protecting an existing network's infrastructure. Teams
acquire points based on their ability to deduct and respond to outside
threats, to maintain availability of existing services such as mail
servers and Web servers, to respond to business requests such as the
addition or removal of additional services, and to balance security
needs against business needs.
The mission of CCDC is to provide a controlled, competitive
environment to assess a student's understanding and competency in
managing the challenges inherent in protecting a corporate network or
business information system. The competition is supported by members of
the cyber security industry and by organizations that understand the
importance of innovation in the field of cyber security.
The 2010 winner of the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition was
Northeastern University.
I urge my colleagues to join me in applauding this significant
achievement, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez).
Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to say a
few words on cyber security in this particular exercise done by
universities.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1244, recognizing the
National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for its now 5-year effort
to promote cyber security curriculum in institutions of higher
education.
The Cyber Collegiate Defense Competition is a 3-day event and is the
first competition of its kind that focuses on the operational aspect of
managing and protecting an existing commercial network infrastructure.
Students get a chance to test their knowledge in an operational
environment and network within industry professionals who are always on
the lookout for up-and-coming engineers.
On February 27 and 28 of 2004, a group of educators and students,
government and industry representatives gathered in San Antonio, Texas,
to discuss the feasibility and desirability of establishing such a
program--this particular regular cyber security exercise with a
uniformed structure for postsecondary-level students.
The Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security at the
University of Texas at San Antonio agreed to host the first Collegiate
Cyber Defense Competition for the Southwestern region in April of 2005.
The University of Texas at San Antonio is the National Center of
Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National
Security Agency and by the Department of Homeland Security.
The University of Texas at San Antonio is in my district, and I have
been continually impressed with their pioneering approach to cyber
security curricula. They have outstanding faculty and staff, all of
whom recognize how critical information assurance is becoming in the
21st century.
This year's regional winners included Towson University, DePaul
University, Montana Tech, Northeastern University, the University of
Washington, Texas A&M University, the University of Louisville, and the
California State Polytechnic University at Pomona.
I am also honored and privileged to have attended this year's
competition and previous events and to have personally had the
opportunity to congratulate the winners from Northeastern University,
the champions of the national competition.
Let me just add that it is exciting to see these young people engage
in this competition. We are hoping that, as we move forward, this will
grow and allow other universities to participate and get engaged as
these are the youngsters, in the words of some of them who describe
themselves, who are the geek warriors who defend our infrastructure
throughout our country and throughout the world. It was really exciting
to see them not only in the competition but to see them participating.
We have
[[Page H4882]]
these unique individuals who are extremely brilliant, who are out there
doing a wonderful job, not only for the private sector but for the
public sector.
In conclusion, I just want to believe that the National Collegiate
Cyber Defense Competition is poised to expand and grow as cyber
security becomes increasingly important for the public and the private
sectors throughout the country and throughout the world. I hope this
body will continue its strong work in supporting the cyber security
profession while making sure we are providing the resources to train
the next generation of cyber security professionals.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the chairwoman for allowing
this particular legislation of recognition to come forward. Thank you
very much.
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of this resolution.
I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
Ms. HIRONO. Once again, I would like to encourage all of my
colleagues to support H. Res. 1244, the National Collegiate Cyber
Defense Competition, and I congratulate all of the participants and the
winners of this very important competition.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1244, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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