Review - HR 1034 Introduced - DHS Cybersecurity OJT

Earlier this month the late Rep Sylvester (D,TX) introduced HR 1034, the DHS Cybersecurity On-the-Job Training Program Act. The bill would establish in CISA “the ‘DHS Cybersecurity On-the-Job Training Program’ to voluntarily train Department employees who are not currently in a cybersecurity position for work in matters relating to cybersecurity at the Department.” No funding would be authorized by this legislation.

This bill is very similar to HR 3208 that was introduced by the late Rep Jackson-Lee (D,TX) in May of 2023. HR 3208 was passed in the House by a somewhat bipartisan vote of 377 to 43 on September 23rd, 2024. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing on the bill on November 20th, 2024, and ordered the bill reported favorably. None of the numerous changes made from the version of the bill passed in the House last session would have a substantive effect on the proposed program.

Moving Forward

The single cosponsor of this bill, Rep Luttrell (R,TX), is a member of the House Homeland Security Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there may be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in Committee. While the composition of the House has not changed significantly from the 118^th Congress, the political dynamic has shifted, so passage of this bill in the House this term is not necessarily assured.

 

For more information on the provisions of this bill, including an expanded discussion about the influences that may make its passage more difficult, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-1034-introduced - subscription required.