Review - HR 8970 Introduced – Junior College Cybersecurity Education

Last month, Rep McClain (R,MI) introduced HR 8970, the National Community College Cybersecurity Challenge Act. The bill would provide for a challenge grant program for States to increase the number of cybersecurity programs run by Community Colleges within the State. The bill would authorize $250 million per year for the program through 2027. The bill would also authorize a workforce innovation fund with a one-time spending authorization of $150 million.

Moving Forward

McClain is a member of the House Education and Labor Committee to which this Committee was assigned for consideration. This means that there may be sufficient influence to see this bill considered in Committee. There may be some Democratic opposition to this bill because of the recission of funds provision in the bill, though it may attract Republican support. I suspect that this bill would pass in Committee with some level of bipartisan support.

Depending on the level of support in Committee, this bill may be able to move to the House floor under the suspension of the rules process. The bill is unlikely to be considered in the Senate due to time constraints in the remainder of the session and the relative unimportance of the bill.

 

For more details about the provisions of the bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-8970-introduced - subscription required.

Bills Introduced – 9-22-22

Yesterday, with the House and Senate preparing to leave for the weekend, there were 84 bills introduced. Four of those bills may receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 8949 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to extend counter-unmanned aircraft systems authorities, to improve transparency, safety, and accountability related to such authorities, and for other purposes. Nadler, Jerrold [Rep.-D-NY-10]

HR 8956 To amend chapter 36 of title 44, United States Code, to improve the cybersecurity of the Federal Government, and for other purposes. Connolly, Gerald E. [Rep.-D-VA-11]

HR 8970 To provide funding to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and capabilities by expanding community colleges programs leading to the award of cybersecurity credentials that are in demand in government, critical infrastructure, nonprofit, and private sectors, and for other purposes. McClain, Lisa C. [Rep.-R-MI-10]

S 4919 A bill to require an interagency strategy for creating a unified posture on counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) capabilities and protections at international borders of the United States. Lankford, James [Sen.-R-OK]

I will be covering both of the counter UAS bills.

I will be watching the two cybersecurity bills for language and definitions that would include industrial control systems within the scope of their coverage.