[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 83 (Monday, May 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4988-H4989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CYBERSECURITY GRANTS FOR SCHOOLS ACT OF 2022

  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6868) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide 
for financial assistance to fund certain cybersecurity and 
infrastructure security education and training programs and

[[Page H4989]]

initiatives, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6868

       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 ``Cybersecurity Grants for 
     Schools Act of 2022''.

     SEC. 2. STRENGTHENING CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION SUPPORT.

       (a) In General.--Section 2220 of the Homeland Security Act 
     of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 665f) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(e) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--The Director may 
     award financial assistance in the form of grants or 
     cooperative agreements to States, local governments, 
     institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in 
     section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     1001)), nonprofit organizations, and other non-Federal 
     entities as determined appropriate by the Director for the 
     purpose of funding cybersecurity and infrastructure security 
     education and training programs and initiatives to--
       ``(1) carry out the purposes of CETAP; and
       ``(2) enhance CETAP to address the national shortfall of 
     cybersecurity professionals.''.
       (b) Briefings.--Paragraph (2) of subsection (c) of section 
     2220 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 665f) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as 
     subparagraphs (D) and (E) respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new 
     subparagraph:
       ``(C) information on any grants or cooperative agreements 
     made pursuant to subsection (e), including how any such 
     grants or cooperative agreements are being used to enhance 
     cybersecurity education for underserved populations or 
     communities;''.

  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.
  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, whenever you talk to experts working in cybersecurity, 
one of the first priorities they emphasize is how important it is to 
address the shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals. We can 
invest in the latest technology, but if we don't have the talent to 
implement cybersecurity practices, we will be left vulnerable.
  There are many programs in the Federal Government designed to help 
address this problem, but one particularly essential one is the 
Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program, or CETAP. 
Operated by DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, 
CETAP supports K-12 cybersecurity education across the country.
  H.R. 6868 will strengthen this existing program by giving CISA the 
authority to provide grants to State and local governments, colleges 
and universities, and nonprofit organizations to carry out the program 
and help address the shortage of cybersecurity professionals in the 
United States.
  The bill also includes an important amendment from Representative 
Jackson Lee to ensure that CISA reports to Congress on how these grants 
are supporting the cybersecurity education of women and 
underrepresented communities.

                              {time}  1515

  As we address our cyber workforce challenges, we must make sure that 
no groups are excluded from that effort.
  I thank the sponsors of H.R. 6868, Representatives Garbarino and 
Titus, for their work on this bill. 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.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 6868, the Cybersecurity Grants for 
Schools Act of 2022.
  Last year, cybersecurity authorities observed incidents involving 
ransomware in nearly every critical infrastructure sector. Given the 
rise of cyber threats to our country, it is more important now than 
ever that we grow an expert cyber workforce capable of defending 
Americans against nation-state actors, criminals, and other malicious 
cyber actors.
  Research estimates a deficit of 3.1 million skilled cybersecurity 
professionals needed to perform this work and keep our country safe. 
There is a multitude of issues contributing to our cyber workforce 
shortage, which is particularly acute in the Federal sector. Lack of 
exposure, uneven education, and Federal agency onboarding issues all 
exacerbate the problem.
  This is why it is more critical than ever to support efforts that 
deliver cybersecurity, STEM, and other computer science curricula and 
resources to our K-12 educators.
  The Cybersecurity Grants for Schools Act of 2022 enables the 
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, to award 
grants or other financial assistance for cybersecurity and 
infrastructure security training and education programs at the 
elementary and secondary education levels. The ability to offer 
financial support for this cyber training will enhance cybersecurity 
education to bolster the country's next generation of cybersecurity 
professionals.
  I thank my colleague on the Homeland Security Committee, 
Representative Garbarino, for his consistent leadership on 
cybersecurity.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to join me in supporting H.R. 6868, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, expanding access to cybersecurity education in our K-12 
schools will develop the next generation of cybersecurity professionals 
who have the knowledge needed to protect us in today's connected world.
  CETAP has shown great success in addressing this challenge, and this 
bill will help us build on that progress.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6868, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  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. 6868, 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. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas 
and nays.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  May 16, 2022, on page H4989, in the third column the following 
appeared: The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, 
two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. MURPHY 
of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: The SPEAKER pro 
tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the 
affirmative, the ayes have it. Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. 
Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  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.

                          ____________________