[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 144 (Monday, August 9, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6189-S6190]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
K-12 CYBERSECURITY ACT OF 2021
Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 107, S.
1917.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 1917) bill to establish a K-12 education
cybersecurity initiative, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which was reported from the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the
bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to
reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill (S. 1917) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading,
was read the third time, and passed as follows
S. 1917
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 ``K-12 Cybersecurity Act of
2021''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) K-12 educational institutions across the United States
are facing cyber attacks.
(2) Cyber attacks place the information systems of K-12
educational institutions at risk of possible disclosure of
sensitive student and employee information, including--
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(A) grades and information on scholastic development;
(B) medical records;
(C) family records; and
(D) personally identifiable information.
(3) Providing K-12 educational institutions with resources
to aid cybersecurity efforts will help K-12 educational
institutions prevent, detect, and respond to cyber events.
SEC. 3. K-12 EDUCATION CYBERSECURITY INITIATIVE.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Cybersecurity risk.--The term ``cybersecurity risk''
has the meaning given the term in section 2209 of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 659).
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security.
(3) Information system.--The term ``information system''
has the meaning given the term in section 3502 of title 44,
United States Code.
(4) K-12 educational institution.--The term ``K-12
educational institution'' means an elementary school or a
secondary school, as those terms are defined in section 8101
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801).
(b) Study.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director, in accordance with
subsection (g)(1), shall conduct a study on the specific
cybersecurity risks facing K-12 educational institutions
that--
(A) analyzes how identified cybersecurity risks
specifically impact K-12 educational institutions;
(B) includes an evaluation of the challenges K-12
educational institutions face in--
(i) securing--
(I) information systems owned, leased, or relied upon by K-
12 educational institutions; and
(II) sensitive student and employee records; and
(ii) implementing cybersecurity protocols;
(C) identifies cybersecurity challenges relating to remote
learning; and
(D) evaluates the most accessible ways to communicate
cybersecurity recommendations and tools.
(2) Congressional briefing.--Not later than 120 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall provide
a Congressional briefing on the study conducted under
paragraph (1).
(c) Cybersecurity Recommendations.--Not later than 60 days
after the completion of the study required under subsection
(b)(1), the Director, in accordance with subsection (g)(1),
shall develop recommendations that include cybersecurity
guidelines designed to assist K-12 educational institutions
in facing the cybersecurity risks described in subsection
(b)(1), using the findings of the study.
(d) Online Training Toolkit.--Not later than 120 days after
the completion of the development of the recommendations
required under subsection (c), the Director shall develop an
online training toolkit designed for officials at K-12
educational institutions to--
(1) educate the officials about the cybersecurity
recommendations developed under subsection (c); and
(2) provide strategies for the officials to implement the
recommendations developed under subsection (c).
(e) Public Availability.--The Director shall make available
on the website of the Department of Homeland Security with
other information relating to school safety the following:
(1) The findings of the study conducted under subsection
(b)(1).
(2) The cybersecurity recommendations developed under
subsection (c).
(3) The online training toolkit developed under subsection
(d).
(f) Voluntary Use.--The use of the cybersecurity
recommendations developed under (c) by K-12 educational
institutions shall be voluntary.
(g) Consultation.--
(1) In general.--In the course of the conduction of the
study required under subsection (b)(1) and the development of
the recommendations required under subsection (c), the
Director shall consult with individuals and entities focused
on cybersecurity and education, as appropriate, including--
(A) teachers;
(B) school administrators;
(C) Federal agencies;
(D) non-Federal cybersecurity entities with experience in
education issues; and
(E) private sector organizations.
(2) Inapplicability of faca.--The Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C App.) shall not apply to any
consultation under paragraph (1).
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