[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 192 (Tuesday, November 2, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6093-H6094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER CYBER TRAINING ACT OF 2021
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4515) to amend the Small Business Act to require cyber
certification for small business development center counselors, and for
other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 4515
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 ``Small Business Development
Center Cyber Training Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. DUTIES OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
COUNSELORS.
Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(o) Cyber Strategy Training for Small Business
Development Centers.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
``(A) the term `cyber strategy' means resources and tactics
to assist in planning for cybersecurity and defending against
cyber risks and cyber attacks; and
``(B) the term `lead small business development center'
means a small business development center that has received a
grant from the Administration.
``(2) Certification program.--The Administrator shall
establish a cyber counseling certification program, or
approve a similar existing program, to certify the employees
of lead small business development centers to provide cyber
planning assistance to small business concerns.
``(3) Number of certified employees.--The Administrator
shall ensure that the number of employees of each lead small
business development center who are certified in providing
cyber planning assistance under this subsection is not fewer
than the lesser of--
``(A) 5; or
``(B) 10 percent of the total number of employees of the
lead small business development center.
``(4) Consideration of small business development center
cyber strategy.--In carrying out this subsection, the
Administrator, to the extent practicable, shall consider any
cyber strategy methods included in the Small Business
Development Center Cyber Strategy developed under section
1841(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328; 130 Stat. 2662).
``(5) Reimbursement for certification.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations and subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall
reimburse a lead small business development center for costs
relating to the certification of an employee of the lead
small business development center under the program
established under paragraph (2).
``(B) Limitation.--The total amount reimbursed by the
Administrator under subparagraph (A) may not exceed $350,000
in any fiscal year.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Ms. Velazquez) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr.
Luetkemeyer) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
{time} 1330
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4515, the Small Business
Development Center Cyber Training Act. This legislation will enable
Small Business Development Centers, SBDCs, to better assist small
businesses with their cybersecurity needs.
Small businesses often lack the resources, training, or technical
knowledge to prevent a cyberattack before it happens. In the past year
alone, 47 percent of small businesses experienced a cyberattack, and
out of those, 44 percent experienced more than one.
A cyberattack can cripple a small business, and the repercussions can
be felt across the supply chain. In fact, the cost of a single breach
can cost upwards of $200,000 or more. During hearings over the years,
my committee has heard heartbreaking stories of how just one
cyberattack forced companies to close their doors permanently.
Today's legislation takes action to provide much-needed resources to
any small company, whether it is our local pizza shop or an independent
Uber driver, to educate and protect themselves from growing cybercrime.
Because SBDCs have a proven record of understanding the needs of
small businesses, H.R. 4515 would establish a cyber counseling
certification program in SBDCs to provide specific, free-of-charge
cyber training for small entities.
The cyber training provided by the nationwide network of SBDCs will
offer crucial resources for small employers to plan and implement
cybersecurity protections and combat cyberattacks.
I thank my colleagues, Mr. Andrew Garbarino from New York, Mr.
Steve Chabot from Ohio, and Mr. Dwight Evans and Ms. Chrissy Houlahan
from Pennsylvania, for their work on this bill. I am confident that the
bipartisan work of the Small Business Committee will better fortify our
Nation's cyber infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume, and I rise in support of H.R. 4515, the Small Business
Development Center Cyber Training Act of 2021.
Small Business Development Centers, or SBDCs, perform numerous
important roles for small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. They
are also
[[Page H6094]]
on the front lines, assisting small business owners with business plans
and questions regarding access to capital.
Unfortunately, cyberattacks are on the rise, and small businesses
remain vulnerable. H.R. 4515 requires SBDCs to be better equipped and
trained to assist small businesses with their cybersecurity needs.
More attention needs to be given to small businesses and how they
deal with cyber intrusions. Empowering SBDCs is one way to do this.
I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino), the gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Evans), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot),
and the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan) for their work on
this bill. I also thank the chair for continuing to act on legislation
dealing with cybersecurity, one of the most critical issues facing us
today.
Overall, these are crucial and important issues facing small
businesses, and I am grateful for the gentlewoman's partnership on this
bill.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 4515, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan).
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Velazquez and Ranking
Member Luetkemeyer for the opportunity to support this bill.
I rise in support of H.R. 4515, the Small Business Development Center
Cyber Training Act, which increases the ability of Small Business
Development Centers across our country to provide cybersecurity
planning assistance and counseling to small businesses. This important
bill requires that at least five staff members, or 10 percent of the
total number of employees, in each Small Business Development Center in
the country are certified in cybersecurity planning and assistance.
My community is fortunate to have two Small Business Development
Centers, one in Reading and one in Exton. As a former entrepreneur
myself before joining Congress, I know intimately and firsthand how
important these centers are. I am grateful for their commitment to help
entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground, establish
themselves, and ultimately to thrive. With the enactment of this
bipartisan bill, they will be able to help more small businesses in
southeastern Pennsylvania defend against cyberattacks.
I want to make the following clear to everyone in Congress and across
America: If we are not protecting our small businesses, we are not
protecting our economy. The rise in cyberattacks against our economy
and our economic infrastructure should be cause for very serious alarm.
We need to be doing everything in our power to not only shore up our
defense but also to equip our small business owners with the tools that
they need to defend their businesses.
I was proud to introduce this bipartisan bill with my colleagues,
Andrew Garbarino from New York, Steve Chabot from Ohio, and my friend
and colleague from Pennsylvania, Dwight Evans. I thank the Small
Business Committee chair, Nydia Velazquez, again for helping bring this
important bill to a vote in the House today.
I urge my colleagues to join me and to vote ``yes'' on this very
important bill.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino).
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman and ranking member
for allowing this bill, the Small Business Development Center Cyber
Training Act, to come to the floor today. I also want to thank the
Representatives for their support who are cosponsors: Representatives
Evans, Chabot, Houlahan, Phillips, Tenney, Delgado, Rice, and
Gottheimer.
Cyberattacks are on the rise, and small businesses are increasingly
vulnerable. Nearly 50 percent of cyberattacks are directed at small
businesses, which can result in devastating financial, intellectual
property, and reputational loss.
Small businesses are targeted because they often lack the resources
or technical knowledge needed to implement and maintain cybersecurity
defenses. This bill combats this by helping Small Business Development
Centers become better equipped to assist small businesses and their
cybersecurity and cyber strategy needs.
Combating cyberattacks and putting small businesses in the best
position to prevent and respond to cyberattacks has become one of my
top priorities as a Member of Congress. As a member of both the Small
Business Committee and the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland
Security's Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection,
and Innovation, I have seen how difficult it is for small businesses to
arm themselves against these kinds of attacks.
This bill provides much-needed resources to help small businesses
improve their cyber preparedness in the face of rising threats. I urge
my colleagues to support and pass H.R. 4515.
Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, we must take a serious look at how businesses are
impacted by cyberattacks. Small businesses operate on thin margins.
Thus, a cyber intrusion could be a lethal blow to them.
SBDCs must be ready to assist all small businesses where cyber
questions arise. This is a smart and commonsense bill that should move
forward.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4515 and all the small business
bills that have been before us today. Each bill tackles important
issues facing American job creators.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, our national cybersecurity infrastructure is only as
strong as our weakest links. America's small companies need the same
cybersecurity protections as Fortune 500 businesses and the Federal
Government but often lack the resources.
This bill would go a long way in assisting small businesses with
their cybersecurity needs. The training and resources provided by SBDCs
will offer crucial resources for small businesses to plan and implement
cybersecurity protections and minimize the damage of cyber incidents.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4515.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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