[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11789-11791]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE CYBER DEFENSE COMPETITION

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1244) recognizing the National Collegiate Cyber 
Defense Competition for its now five-year effort to promote cyber 
security curriculum in institutions of higher learning, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1244

       Whereas, on February 27, 2004, and Februray 28, 2004, a 
     group of educators, students, and government and industry 
     representatives gathered in San Antonio, Texas, to gauge the 
     interest in and support for the establishment of regular 
     cyber security exercises for postsecondary students;
       Whereas stakeholders in the cyber security profession 
     sought to create a cyber security exercise template for 
     universities nationwide, and to encourage educational 
     institutions to offer students practical experience in 
     information assurance;
       Whereas in an effort to develop a regular, national-level 
     cyber security exercise, the Center for Infrastructure 
     Assurance and Security at the University of Texas at San 
     Antonio agreed to host the first Collegiate Cyber Defense 
     Competition (CCDC) for the Southwestern region in April 2005;
       Whereas the mission of the CCDC system is to provide 
     institutions with an information assurance or computer 
     security curriculum in a controlled, competitive environment 
     to assess the student's depth of understanding and 
     operational competency in managing the challenges inherent in 
     protecting corporate network infrastructure and business 
     information systems;
       Whereas the CCDC has attracted participation from 
     institutions of higher education from across the United 
     States;
       Whereas 2010 regional competition hosts include Southwest 
     host Texas A&M University, North Central host Dakota State 
     University, Northeast host University of Maine, Pacific Rim 
     co-hosts University of Washington and Highline Community 
     College, Midwest co-hosts Inver Hills Community College and 
     Moraine Valley Community College, Mid-Atlantic host Community 
     College of Baltimore County, Southeast host Kennesaw State 
     University, and West Coast host California State Polytechnic 
     University, Pomona;
       Whereas 2010 regional competition winners include Towson 
     University, DePaul University, Montana Tech of the University 
     of Montana, Northeastern University, University of 
     Washington, Texas A&M University, University of Louisville, 
     and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; and
       Whereas the furtherance and development of cyber security 
     academic programs in institutions of higher education will 
     help meet the rapidly growing demand for cyber security 
     specialists in the public and private sectors: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the 
     National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for its now 
     five-year effort to promote cyber security curriculum in 
     institutions of higher learning.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert

[[Page 11790]]

extraneous material on House Resolution 1244 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 1244, which recognizes 
the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for their 5-year 
effort to promote cyber security curriculum at institutions of higher 
education. Their dedication and commitment to cyber security 
instruction serves an important purpose as computer and Internet 
software continue their vital role in our digital world.
  In February of 2004, a group of educators, students, and government 
and industry representatives in cyber defense gathered in San Antonio, 
Texas, to address the growing need for cyber security education for 
post-secondary students. These individuals understood the growing 
importance of, and the world's increasing reliance, on computer and 
Internet software, as well as the national security interest in 
protecting this vital infrastructure. From the gathering in San 
Antonio, the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition was born.
  The competition provides students the opportunity to improve their 
understanding and operational competency in protecting corporate 
network infrastructure and business information systems. For the past 5 
years, the competition has offered computer security curriculum to 
students at institutions of higher education across the United States.
  Many teams participated in this year's regional competition with 
winners including Towson University, DePaul University, Montana Tech, 
Northeastern University, University of Washington, Texas A&M 
University, University of Louisville, and California State Polytechnic 
University at Pomona. Students from these universities learned many 
skills and their education will help meet the rapidly growing demand 
for cyber security specialists in the public and private sectors.

                              {time}  1415

  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Rodriguez for introducing 
this resolution.
  Once again, I express my support for House Resolution 1244, which 
recognizes the importance of the National Collegiate Cyber Defense 
Competition and its contribution to our Nation's cyber security 
curriculum.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1244, 
recognizing the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for its 
5-year effort to promote cyber security curriculum in institutions of 
higher education.
  In April of 2005, the University of Texas at San Antonio held the 
first Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, or CCDC, for the 
Southwestern region. The CCDC focuses on the operational aspects of 
managing and protecting an existing network's infrastructure. Teams 
acquire points based on their ability to deduct and respond to outside 
threats, to maintain availability of existing services such as mail 
servers and Web servers, to respond to business requests such as the 
addition or removal of additional services, and to balance security 
needs against business needs.
  The mission of CCDC is to provide a controlled, competitive 
environment to assess a student's understanding and competency in 
managing the challenges inherent in protecting a corporate network or 
business information system. The competition is supported by members of 
the cyber security industry and by organizations that understand the 
importance of innovation in the field of cyber security.
  The 2010 winner of the Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition was 
Northeastern University.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in applauding this significant 
achievement, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez).
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to say a 
few words on cyber security in this particular exercise done by 
universities.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1244, recognizing the 
National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition for its now 5-year effort 
to promote cyber security curriculum in institutions of higher 
education.
  The Cyber Collegiate Defense Competition is a 3-day event and is the 
first competition of its kind that focuses on the operational aspect of 
managing and protecting an existing commercial network infrastructure. 
Students get a chance to test their knowledge in an operational 
environment and network within industry professionals who are always on 
the lookout for up-and-coming engineers.
  On February 27 and 28 of 2004, a group of educators and students, 
government and industry representatives gathered in San Antonio, Texas, 
to discuss the feasibility and desirability of establishing such a 
program--this particular regular cyber security exercise with a 
uniformed structure for postsecondary-level students.
  The Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security at the 
University of Texas at San Antonio agreed to host the first Collegiate 
Cyber Defense Competition for the Southwestern region in April of 2005. 
The University of Texas at San Antonio is the National Center of 
Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National 
Security Agency and by the Department of Homeland Security.
  The University of Texas at San Antonio is in my district, and I have 
been continually impressed with their pioneering approach to cyber 
security curricula. They have outstanding faculty and staff, all of 
whom recognize how critical information assurance is becoming in the 
21st century.
  This year's regional winners included Towson University, DePaul 
University, Montana Tech, Northeastern University, the University of 
Washington, Texas A&M University, the University of Louisville, and the 
California State Polytechnic University at Pomona.
  I am also honored and privileged to have attended this year's 
competition and previous events and to have personally had the 
opportunity to congratulate the winners from Northeastern University, 
the champions of the national competition.
  Let me just add that it is exciting to see these young people engage 
in this competition. We are hoping that, as we move forward, this will 
grow and allow other universities to participate and get engaged as 
these are the youngsters, in the words of some of them who describe 
themselves, who are the geek warriors who defend our infrastructure 
throughout our country and throughout the world. It was really exciting 
to see them not only in the competition but to see them participating. 
We have these unique individuals who are extremely brilliant, who are 
out there doing a wonderful job, not only for the private sector but 
for the public sector.
  In conclusion, I just want to believe that the National Collegiate 
Cyber Defense Competition is poised to expand and grow as cyber 
security becomes increasingly important for the public and the private 
sectors throughout the country and throughout the world. I hope this 
body will continue its strong work in supporting the cyber security 
profession while making sure we are providing the resources to train 
the next generation of cyber security professionals.
  I want to take this opportunity to thank the chairwoman for allowing 
this particular legislation of recognition to come forward. Thank you 
very much.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of this resolution.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 1244, ``Recognizing the National Collegiate Cyber Defense 
Competition for its now five-year effort to promote cyber security 
curriculum in institutions of higher learning,'' as introduced by

[[Page 11791]]

my fellow member of the Texas delegation, Rep. Ciro Rodriguez.
  Our nation's critical infrastructure is composed of public and 
private institutions in the sectors of agriculture, food, water, public 
health, emergency services, government, defense industrial base, 
information and telecommunications, energy, transportation, banking and 
finance, chemicals and hazardous materials, and postal and shipping. 
Cyberspace is their nervous system--the control system of our country. 
Cyberspace is composed of hundreds of thousands of interconnected 
computers, servers, routers, switches, and fiber optic cables that 
allow our critical infrastructures to work. Thus, the healthy, secure, 
and efficient functioning of cyberspace is essential to both our 
economy and our national security.
  One of the most significant security challenges that our Federal 
government faces today is ensuring that we have an abundance of 
adequately trained individuals defending our information 
infrastructure. In the past, I have been proud to sponsor bills that 
would increase funding for cybersecurity education programs, to ensure 
that we have a properly trained workforce to protect this vital 
infrastructure. The National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition 
(CCDC) is an important piece of the cybersecurity education puzzle.
  Since 2005, the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition has 
given students in the field of cybersecurity the opportunity to 
showcase their abilities. Rather than having students design an 
``ideal'' network, the CCDC requires participants to assume the 
administrative and protective duties for an existing ``commercial'' 
network. This allows participants to show their skill at ``real world'' 
situations, as very few cybersecurity workers will have the luxury of 
building a perfect system from the ground up. While we obviously want 
to build the most secure networks possible, our experts must be able to 
work with the infrastructure that exists, finding and eliminating 
weaknesses that may already exist, and making imperfect systems secure.
  Over the last few years, the contest has grown to include regional 
competitions in Texas, Maine, Washington, California, and Minnesota, 
among other locations. This year, there were more than eighty schools 
that participated, from all parts of the country. The students 
participating in this contest have not only demonstrated their 
knowledge and understanding of this important function, but they have 
also had the opportunity to hone their skills by dealing with actual, 
real time issues. The National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition 
plays an important role in the development of our next generation of 
cybersecurity professionals, and I am proud to join Mr. Rodriguez in 
recognizing it.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
support for H. Res. 1244, sponsored by Representative Ciro Rodriguez of 
Texas, recognizing the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition 
(CCDC) for their five-year effort in promoting a cyber security 
curriculum in institutions of higher learning. I believe that because 
the contestants are tested on their operational and management skills 
in network infrastructures and keeping defense systems safe from 
hackers, the CCDC not only benefits the competitors but support 
educators, students, the community, and the Government.
  Cyber defense is important to my constituency in Georgia, as well as 
to our nation as a whole because as our technology capabilities grow 
nationally so does the threat to our network operations. I share the 
concerns of many Americans that information privacy and security is 
compromised as more and more information becomes electronic. Everyday, 
Americans fill out doctor's forms, insurance forms, credit card forms, 
and other documents that are digitized and stored at a data center 
somewhere. Too often, we find out that this information has been 
compromised in some way, whether intentionally by a hacker or 
accidentally through poor data management. Once compromised, one can 
never know how their personal information could have been accessed and 
how it may be used in the future. As more and more data becomes 
electronic, clearly we should invest in a cyber security system that is 
capable of protecting this data.
  I am proud to recognize the National Collegiate Cyber Defense 
Competition today because it is not only a way to allow talented 
individuals an opportunity to provide infrastructure assurance and 
security; it also challenges students to protect corporate network 
infrastructures and business information systems.
  I congratulate the 2010 National Collegiate Cyber Defense Champions 
on their win and I urge my colleagues to support this important 
resolution.
  Ms. HIRONO. Once again, I would like to encourage all of my 
colleagues to support H. Res. 1244, the National Collegiate Cyber 
Defense Competition, and I congratulate all of the participants and the 
winners of this very important competition.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1244, 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.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________