HENDERSON, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV-03), a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, held a roundtable discussion with Nevada education leaders, students, government organizations, and tech companies on the cybersecurity threats they face and how the Members’ bipartisan and bicameral legislation, the Cyber Ready Workforce Act, addresses these threats by working to increase the size of the United States’ cyber workforce.
“The security of our nation’s cyber infrastructure is put at serious risk without a robust, skilled cyber-workforce,” said Senator Rosen. “We met with a wide range of organizations here in Nevada to discuss ways we can work to develop cyber-protections that safeguard our economy and our national security. I’m proud to put forth legislation that helps ensure our businesses, communities, and government are equipped with trained people and the critical tools they need to defend themselves from cyber-threats.”
“Cybersecurity and a competent, prepared cyber workforce are critical to so many facets of everyday life, especially to our personal and national security,” said Congresswoman Lee. “From private businesses to governments, our digital interconnectedness has opened new opportunities, yet has exposed us to a new frontier of threats. For example, in 2016 alone, Nevadans filed over 3,700 internet crime complaints to the FBI, and the figure ballooned to over 4,600 the following year. This isn’t just about security, though. Diversifying our region’s economy has always been a top priority for generations of Nevada lawmakers, and my and Sen. Rosen’s bipartisan, bicameral Cyber Ready Workforce Act is a bold effort in that direction. This bill is one of many initiatives in my fight for Nevadans’ education, security, and economic future, and I will continue to champion efforts like these so long as I represent Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District.”
“We’re thankful for the opportunity to sit down with Senator Rosen and Congresswoman Lee today to discuss how together, we can create and implement cybersecurity training programs to build a workforce for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Dr. Federico Zaragoza, President of the College of Southern Nevada. “We applaud the Senator and Congresswoman for this crucial bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will keep our businesses, organizations, and nation safe.”
BACKGROUND: In May, Senator Rosen introduced the Cyber Ready Workforce Act (S. 1466), legislation that would direct the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to award grants to workforce intermediaries to support the creation, implementation, and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity.
Congresswoman Lee also introduced companion legislation (H.R. 2721) in the House of Representatives in May.
In July, Rosen introduced the bipartisan JROTC Cyber Training Act, legislation that would direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to enhance the preparation of students in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) for careers in computer science and cybersecurity. That same month, Rosen also introduced the US-Israel Cybersecurity Center of Excellence Act, S. 2309, bipartisan legislation that would require the State Department to investigate potential benefits of establishing a joint US-Israel cybersecurity center.
###
