[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 83 (Monday, May 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4976-H4978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PRESIDENT'S CUP CYBERSECURITY COMPETITION ACT

  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6824) to authorize the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure 
Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security to hold an 
annual cybersecurity competition relating to offensive and defensive 
cybersecurity disciplines, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6824

       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 ``President's Cup 
     Cybersecurity Competition Act''.

     SEC. 2. PRESIDENT'S CUP CYBERSECURITY COMPETITION.

       (a) In General.--The Director of the Cybersecurity and 
     Infrastructure Security Agency (in this section referred to 
     as the ``Director'') of the Department of Homeland Security 
     is authorized to hold an annual cybersecurity competition to 
     be known as the ``Department of Homeland Security 
     Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's 
     President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition'' (in this section 
     referred to as the ``competition'') for the purpose of 
     identifying, challenging, and competitively awarding prizes, 
     including cash prizes, to the United States Government's best 
     cybersecurity practitioners and teams across offensive and 
     defensive cybersecurity disciplines.
       (b) Competition Design.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, 
     United States Code, the Director, in carrying out the 
     competition, may consult with, and consider advice from, any 
     person who has experience or expertise in the development, 
     design, or execution of cybersecurity competitions.
       (2) Limitation.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
     U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to consultations pursuant to 
     this section.
       (3) Prohibition.--A person with whom the Director consults 
     under paragraph (1) may not--
       (A) receive pay by reason of being so consulted; or
       (B) be considered an employee of the Federal Government by 
     reason of so consulting.
       (c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to participate in the 
     competition, an individual shall be a Federal civilian 
     employee or member of the uniformed services (as such term is 
     defined in section 2101(3) of title 5, United States Code) 
     and shall comply with any rules promulgated by the Director 
     regarding the competition.
       (d) Competition Administration.--The Director may enter 
     into a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other 
     agreement with a private sector for-profit or nonprofit 
     entity or State or local government agency to administer the 
     competition.
       (e) Competition Parameters.--Each competition shall 
     incorporate the following elements:
       (1) Cybersecurity skills outlined in the National 
     Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Framework, or any 
     successor framework.
       (2) Individual and team events.
       (3) Categories demonstrating offensive and defensive cyber 
     operations, such as software reverse engineering and 
     exploitation, network operations, forensics, big data 
     analysis, cyber analysis, cyber defense, cyber exploitation, 
     secure programming, obfuscated coding, or cyber-physical 
     systems.
       (4) Any other elements related to paragraphs (1), (2), or 
     (3) as determined necessary by the Director.
       (f) Use of Funds.--
       (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, the Director may use amounts made available to the 
     Director for the competition for the following:
       (A) Advertising, marketing, and promoting the competition.
       (B) Meals for participants and organizers of the 
     competition if attendance at the meal during the competition 
     is necessary to maintain the integrity of the competition.
       (C) Promotional items, including merchandise and apparel.
       (D) Monetary and nonmonetary awards for competition 
     participants, including members of the uniformed services.
       (E) Necessary expenses for the honorary recognition of 
     competition participants, including members of the uniformed 
     services.
       (F) Any other appropriate activity necessary to carry out 
     the competition, as determined by the Director.
       (2) Application.--This subsection shall apply to amounts 
     appropriated on or after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
       (g) Prize Limitation.--The Director may make one or more 
     awards per competition, except that the amount or value of 
     each shall not exceed $10,000. The Secretary of Homeland 
     Security may make one or more awards per competition, except 
     the amount or the value of each shall not to exceed $25,000. 
     A monetary award under this section shall be in addition to 
     the regular pay of the recipient.
       (h) Reporting Requirements.--The Director shall annually 
     provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that includes the 
     following:
       (1) A description of available funds under subsection (f) 
     for each competition conducted in the preceding year.
       (2) A description of expenditures authorized in subsection 
     (g) for each competition.
       (3) Information relating to the participation of each 
     competition.
       (4) Information relating to lessons learned from each 
     competition and how such lessons may be applied to improve 
     cybersecurity operations and recruitment of the Cybersecurity 
     and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of 
     Homeland Security.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Malinowski) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. LaTurner) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.

[[Page H4977]]

  

  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, before I begin debate on today's legislation, I will 
take a moment to acknowledge the tragic, bloody events of this weekend 
in Milwaukee, Buffalo, and Orange County, California. The loss of life 
and extent of injury to innocent people, as we all know, are 
staggering.
  These incidents are all under investigation but, from a homeland 
security perspective, I will zero in, in particular, on the events in 
New York where we have, I think, a fairly good picture of what 
motivated a man to gun down innocent people, an event that has happened 
too many times in recent history in our country.
  This young man clearly was motivated by an idea, a hateful idea and a 
racist idea, and one that is sadly familiar to us. It is the same idea 
that motivated another man to gun down African Americans in Charleston, 
South Carolina. It is the same idea that motivated yet another man to 
gun down Hispanic Americans in El Paso, Texas. It is the same idea that 
motivated another man to gun down Jewish Americans in Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania.
  It is an idea that spreads on the internet. But it doesn't just 
spread organically. Social media companies write algorithms 
deliberately designed to connect people who are susceptible to this 
hateful idea to others who may be propagating it. It is an idea that 
sadly is sometimes amplified and legitimized by political leaders and 
media personalities in our country.
  We have a domestic terrorism problem in America. We all understand 
that on the Homeland Security Committee. If this problem was coming 
from outside the United States, it would be easy for us to come 
together to deal with it.
  Imagine if after the September 11 attacks there were cable news hosts 
who night after night propagated ideas straight from al-Qaida's 
propaganda materials. We wouldn't tolerate it. Nobody would for one 
moment think that was acceptable in the United States of America. But 
because it is a domestic problem rooted in our own society, it is 
harder. We have to find a way to come together, nonetheless.
  I think there are two kinds of leaders in America today, not 
Democrat, Republican, liberal, or conservative. There are leaders who, 
when they see a fire burning, they reach for a bucket of water to put 
it out. And there are leaders who, when they see a fire burning, reach 
for a can of gasoline to make that fire burn even more. We desperately 
need leaders in this country, of both political parties, who will try 
to calm things down and who will tamp down these horrible, hateful 
ideas, whether they are coming from the left or the right, wherever 
they are coming from, because these ideas are leading to people being 
gunned down in our country. It is unacceptable, and it has to stop.
  Mr. Speaker, let's turn to the legislation before us today.
  Mr. Speaker, as a nation, we are fortunate to have so many dedicated 
public servants who work for our Federal Government and help keep us 
safe. Unfortunately, they frequently go without the recognition they 
deserve for their hard work. The President's Cup Cybersecurity 
Competition Act authorizes an innovative prize competition where cyber 
talent within the ranks of Federal departments and agencies is honored.
  Today, it is critical to our homeland and national security that the 
Federal Government attract, develop, and retain dedicated and talented 
employees to carry out cybersecurity and cyber defense activities. It 
is not lost on me that, by choosing to work for the government rather 
than the private sector, these in-demand professionals often forgo more 
lucrative career opportunities.
  H.R. 6824 would authorize the cyber competition that CISA hosts and 
ensure that financial awards can be provided to the winning individuals 
and teams in recognition of their achievement. In the short period of 
time that the President's Cup has been around, it has become a much-
sought-after prize among talented Federal cyber practitioners, many of 
whom are civilians or active military. By permanently authorizing this 
competition, Congress can ensure that it remains a vital part of our 
strategy to identify, retain, and reward the best cybersecurity talent 
in the Federal Government.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud Representative Luria for her leadership in 
authoring this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTURNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6824, the President's 
Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act.
  Mr. Speaker, you merely have to turn on the news to hear about the 
latest ransomware problem that continues to vex our country. According 
to research funded by the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, there is a deficit of almost half a million cybersecurity 
employees in the U.S. Now more than ever, it is critical that the 
Federal Government provide cybersecurity education and pathways to 
Federal employment and make Federal retention of this limited skill set 
a priority.
  One very important effort is underpinned by the President's Cup 
Cybersecurity Competition Act. CISA launched the first President's Cup 
Cybersecurity Act in 2019, as a national cybersecurity competition for 
both individuals and teams, aiming to identify, challenge, and reward 
the best cybersecurity talent in the Federal workforce.

  This bill grants CISA the authority to fully implement the 
cybersecurity competition with certain parameters and provide prizes to 
winning individuals and teams. By codifying the cybersecurity 
competition, we further incentivize a skilled cybersecurity workforce. 
We also signal that Congress is committed to addressing Federal 
cybersecurity recruitment and retention challenges.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6824, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to 
close.
  Mr. Speaker, the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition has been 
an important part of our strategy to support a strong Federal 
cybersecurity workforce in recent years. Unfortunately, without 
congressional authorization, it lacks the stability it needs. So thanks 
to this legislation, authored by my committee colleague, Representative 
Luria, we have the opportunity to authorize and preserve a key 
retention tool in the Federal toolbox to ensure that talented Federal 
cyber professionals get the recognition they deserve.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6824, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LURIA. Mr. Speaker, a critical element of strengthening our 
nation's cybersecurity is ensuring the Federal government employs the 
best and the brightest with the most advanced cybersecurity skills.
  Whether at CISA, our intelligence agencies, our military, or at other 
departments across the Federal government, cybersecurity professionals 
play an essential role in keeping our nation safe, and we must 
prioritize their recruitment, development, and retention.
  Unfortunately, it has been challenging to compete with the private 
sector for cyber talent, so we must look to creative ways to strengthen 
the Federal cyber workforce.
  The President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition is one innovative part 
of that effort.
  Organized by CISA, this annual cybersecurity competition brings 
together cybersecurity professionals, both civilian and military, from 
across the Federal government to compete in a series of challenges that 
test a wide range of cybersecurity skills.
  My legislation would authorize this competition to ensure it remains 
part of our Federal cyber workforce strategy and grants CISA the 
necessary authorities to fully carry out the program.
  Importantly, it addresses legal barriers that have prevented CISA 
from directly providing cash prizes to winning teams and individuals 
that work in other departments or agencies.
  H.R. 6824 specifically authorizes CISA to confer cash prizes to the 
winners, many of whom are in the military, for their achievement.
  By passing this legislation, we demonstrate our commitment to further 
developing a competitive and highly skilled Federal cybersecurity 
workforce.
  I thank Representatives Connolly and Garbarino for cosponsoring this 
bill, and Chairman Thompson and Ranking Member Katko for their support 
for authorizing this important program.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan bill 
and look forward to working with them to get it enacted into law.

[[Page H4978]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Malinowski) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6824, as amended.
  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. ROY. 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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