[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 19, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF HOUSE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS 
           THAT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR CAREERS IN CYBERSECURITY

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                          HON. J. LUIS CORREA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 19, 2017

  Mr. CORREA. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing a House Resolution 
supporting the development of programs that prepare students for 
careers in cybersecurity.
  As a Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, I have come to 
understand that we need to invest in our nation's students to make sure 
our country is prepared to combat the cyber challenges of the 21st 
century. It is critical that the United States develop cybersecurity 
programs that allow students to keep up with the demands of rapidly 
evolving technology and to address the risks associated with cyber 
threats.
  The United States faces a critical shortage of trained cybersecurity 
professionals, a shortage that includes an estimated 10,000 
cybersecurity employment openings in the Federal Government alone. This 
number is likely to grow to as many as one million unfilled positions 
throughout the United States by 2019. Educating and training our 
students is vital to bolster the cyber capabilities of our government, 
military, and private sector.
  By encouraging students to develop cyber skills, we can begin to work 
towards building robust cybersecurity education. It is well known that 
early exposure to skills such as computer programming and ethical 
hacking increases accessibility to higher education and can encourage 
students to pursue a career in cybersecurity.
  Over the years, the United States has become a target of a growing 
number of malicious cyber attacks, including large-scale breaches that 
compromise the personal identities and personal information of millions 
of Americans. These cyber threats pose a significant risk to the 
protection of our critical infrastructure, privacy, and national 
security.
  It is essential that our country continues to support the development 
of cybersecurity education programs to ensure the United States is 
protected from cyber attacks. Our students are the key to the future, 
and we must do everything we can to make sure they are equipped with 
the skills necessary to combat the cyber challenges of the 21st 
century.

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