WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced their introduction of a bipartisan resolution that would designate the week of June 21 through 25 as National Cybersecurity Education Week. The resolution also commits the Senate to raising awareness about cyber education and taking legislative actions to address cybersecurity education expansion and address the cybersecurity workforce shortage.
“Recent, unprecedented cyberattacks like the SolarWinds and Colonial Pipeline breaches demonstrate the urgency of solving the national cybersecurity workforce shortage,” dijo el Senador Rosen. “Building and strengthening a robust cybersecurity workforce pipeline starts with K-12 cybersecurity education, which is why I am proud to introduce this bipartisan resolution with Senator Cassidy designating a National Cybersecurity Education Week.”
“Recent cyberattacks pose a serious threat and show the need for stronger cybersecurity,” said Dr. Cassidy. “With every aspect of our lives becoming increasingly online, we need an all-of-nation response to cyber-threats.”
“We are thrilled to have Senators Rosen and Cassidy designate the inaugural National Cybersecurity Education Week, which will be foundational to helping solve the national security crisis caused by increased cyberattacks by bad actors,” said Kevin Nolten, Director of Academic Outreach at CYBER.ORG. “Introducing the next generation of cyber professionals to the field should begin in kindergarten and teachers have an important role to play as force multipliers. We are thrilled to create a forum where we can celebrate the accomplishments of the K-12 cybersecurity education community annually and convene important conversations around how we advance cybersecurity education at the ground level.”
BACKGROUND: Last year, Senator Rosen and Senator Cassidy introduced the bipartisan PROTECT (Providing Resources for Ongoing Training and Education in Cyber Technologies) Act, legislation that would authorize and provide stability to the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program (CETAP). CETAP provides cybersecurity workforce development assistance to K-12 students across the United States.
Last year, Senator Rosen, alongside Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), introduced the bipartisan PROMOTES Act of 2020 (S. 3900), legislation that would authorize the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program to enhance the preparation of students in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) for training and education in STEM fields.
Last Congress, Rosen helped introduced the bipartisan Harvesting American Cybersecurity Knowledge through Education (HACKED) Act (S. 2775), which would expand and coordinate current federal cybersecurity programs and align education and training with cybersecurity workforce needs.
los PROMOTES Act, PROTECT Act, and HACKED Act were all signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.
Last Congress, Senator Rosen also introduced the Cyber Ready Workforce Act (S. 1466), bipartisan 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.
Rosen is a member of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus.
###
