[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 166 (Friday, October 5, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    WHATCOM COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERSHIP IN CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION

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                            HON. RICK LARSEN

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 5, 2018

  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
Whatcom Community College (WCC) for its leadership in cybersecurity 
education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of 2016 
there were over 100,000 cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. Yet the 
cybersecurity workforce gap is projected to reach 1.8 million unfilled 
cybersecurity jobs in 2020. Congress needs to invest in the future of 
the cybersecurity workforce.
  WCC is one example of how academic institutions in the U.S. engage 
students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to excel 
in the cybersecurity field. As a National Center of Academic Excellence 
in Information Assurance, WCC leads the expansion of cybersecurity 
education nationwide. WCC through their leadership in CyberWatch West, 
works to improve existing cybersecurity resources to develop effective 
training and teaching modules to raise awareness and build partnerships 
among academia and industry. It is imperative for local communities to 
increase connections with industry around cybersecurity to better 
enable the U.S. to foster the growth and complexity Octobers education.
  In 2020, WCC is planning to apply to become a Center of Excellence in 
Cybersecurity. Designating WCC as the next Center of Excellence in 
Cybersecurity would provide valuable resources to community colleges 
seeking to improve their cybersecurity education programs and foster 
innovation and interest in cybersecurity education throughout the U.S.
  I thank WCC for its contribution to cybersecurity education in the 
U.S. and will continue to advocate for increased investment in STEM.

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