[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 127 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S4590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 700. Ms. HARRIS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
her to the bill H.R. 2810, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2018 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy,
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. PILOT PROGRAM ON INTEGRATING INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE WORKFORCE INDIVIDUALS WITH
CYBERSECURITY SKILLS WHOSE SERVICES ARE DONATED
BY PRIVATE PERSONS.
(a) Pilot Program Required.--Not later than June 1, 2019,
the Secretary of Defense shall commence carrying out a pilot
program to assess the feasibility and advisability of
integrating into the workforce of the Department of Defense
individuals who have skills relating to cybersecurity and
whose services are donated to the Department of Defense by
private persons.
(b) Duration.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall carry out the pilot program during the period
beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot
program and ending on June 1, 2024.
(2) Extension.--At the end of the period set forth in
paragraph (1), the Secretary may, as the Secretary considers
appropriate, extend the period of the pilot program for such
period as the Secretary considers appropriate, except that
such extension shall be less than two years.
(c) Location.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program at one or more facilities of the Federal Government
or a nonprofit organization. Such facilities shall be
selected by the Secretary to maximize the number of
individuals participating in the pilot program consistent
with subsection (d)(3).
(2) Workspaces for handling classified material.--The
Secretary shall ensure that such facilities include, as the
Secretary considers appropriate, workspaces for handling
classified material.
(d) Application and Selection.--
(1) Application.--An individual seeking to participate in
the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary an
application therefor at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(2) Selection.--The Secretary shall establish a competitive
process for the selection of individuals to participate in
the pilot program.
(3) Priorities.--In selecting individuals to participate in
the pilot program, the Secretary shall give priority to
individuals who have not previously served as an employee or
contractor of the Federal Government and who possess
technical expertise relating to the defense of information
systems. In selecting individuals to particupate in the pilot
program and individuals to support the pilot program, the
Secretary shall also give priority to individuals who will
facilitate integration of skilled experts from the private
sector into the Federal Government cybersecurity workforce.
(4) Maximum number of participants.--No more than 250
individuals may concurrently participate in the pilot
program.
(e) Federal Collaboration.--The Secretary shall detail
employees of the Department to the facilities selected under
subsection (c) to maximize productivity, collaboration, and
exchange of knowledge.
(f) Appointments.--
(1) Authorities.--In carrying out the pilot program, the
Secretary may use any appropriate appointment authority,
including the authorities for--
(A) public-private talent exchanges under section 1599g of
title 10, United States Code;
(B) an information technology exchange program under
section 3702 of title 5, United States Code, notwithstanding
the numerical limitation provided in that section; and
(C) appointment under subchapter VI of chapter 33 of such
title, except that, for purposes of the pilot program, the
term ``other organization'', as used in such subchapter,
shall be deemed to include a for-profit organization.
(2) Compensation.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed as a modification of the compensation provisions or
ethics requirements associated with the appointment
authorities in paragraph (1).
(3) Expenses.--The Secretary may pay for travel and other
work-related expenses associated with individuals
participating in the pilot program.
(g) Detailing of Participants.--With the consent of an
individual participating in the pilot program, the Secretary
may, under the pilot program, detail the individual to
another Federal department or agency.
(h) Security Clearances.--The Secretary shall establish an
expedited process for providing appropriate security
clearances to individuals who participate in the pilot
program, consistent with counterintelligence best practices.
(i) Avoidance of Duplication.--In carrying out the pilot
program, the Secretary of Defense shall coordinate with the
Defense Digital Service, the Defense Innovation Unit
Experimental, and such other elements of the United States
Government as the Secretary considers appropriate to minimize
duplication of effort and facilities.
(j) Reports.--
(1) Preliminary report.--Not later than June 1, 2022, the
Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense
committees a preliminary report describing the results of the
pilot program, recommending how the pilot program could be
improved, and providing a recommendation on whether the pilot
program should be made permanent.
(2) Final report.--Not later than January 1, 2025, the
Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense
committees a final report describing the results of the pilot
program, recommending how the pilot program could be
improved, and providing a recommendation on whether the pilot
program should be made permanent.
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