WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and U.S. Representatives Andrew Garbarino (R-NY-02) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09) today introduced a resolution to designate June as National Cybersecurity Education Month. The resolution also aims to educate Americans on the essential role of cybersecurity education and to support federal, state, and local efforts.
“Cyberattacks affect all aspects of life and demonstrate the need for stronger protections,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We need a national focus to prioritize cybersecurity education and enhance prevention efforts.”
“As the first former computer programmer elected to the United States Senate, I’m honored to recognize June as National Cybersecurity Education Month to highlight the efforts to increase cybersecurity literacy among K-12 students,” said Senator Rosen. “As cyber threats have been on the rise, I have prioritized legislation to protect our students and teachers from cyber threats and equip them with the skills to be ready for the next generation of cyber jobs. Strengthening and diversifying the cybersecurity workforce is key to improving our national security.”
“In today’s hyper-connected world, cybersecurity is national security,” said Representative Garbarino. “As our foreign adversaries grow increasingly sophisticated, it is more important than ever that we fill the cybersecurity talent pipeline to ensure that we can meet rising cyber threats and better protect our future. That starts with education and awareness which is why I am proud join Senators Cassidy and Rosen and Congresswoman Clarke in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral Resolution to designate June as National Cybersecurity Education Month and to promote the essential need to improve cybersecurity literacy among K-12 students.”
Read the full resolution here or below.
Whereas recent cyberattacks and vulnerabilities present cybersecurity risks to individuals and organizations and increase the urgency to grow and sustain a knowledgeable and skilled cybersecurity workforce in both the public and private sectors;
Whereas, according to CyberSeek.org, as of June 2022, there are 714,548 open jobs in cybersecurity in the United States and 1,091,576 individuals in the cybersecurity workforce;
Whereas a 2017 report entitled “Supporting the Growth and Sustainment of the Nation’s Cybersecurity Workforce: Building the Foundation for a More Secure American Future”, transmitted by the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, proposed a vision to “prepare, grow, and sustain a cybersecurity workforce that safeguards and promotes America’s national security and economic prosperity”;
Whereas expanding cybersecurity education opportunities is important in order to address the cybersecurity workforce shortage and prepare the United States for ongoing and future national security threats;
Whereas cybersecurity education can—
(1) provide learning and career opportunities for students across the United States in kindergarten through grade 12; and
(2) bolster the capacity of the domestic workforce to defend the United States and secure the economy of the United States;
Whereas, in 2021, Congress authorized, as part of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283), the Cybersecurity Education Training Assistance Program (commonly known as “CETAP”), a Department of Homeland Security initiative to provide cybersecurity career awareness, curricular resources, and professional development to elementary and secondary schools;
Whereas CYBER.ORG, a grantee of CETAP, has introduced cybersecurity concepts to more than 3,400,000 students and provided resources to more than 25,000 K-12 educators in all 50 States and 4 United States territories;
Whereas the mission of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (commonly known as “NICE)” is “to energize, promote, and coordinate a robust community working together to advance an integrated ecosystem of cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development”;
Whereas cybersecurity education is supported through multiple Federal programs and other related efforts, including—
(1) the NICE Community Coordinating Council;
(2) the Advanced Technological Education program administered by the National Science Foundation;
(3) the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service Program administered by the National Science Foundation, in collaboration with the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Homeland Security;
(4) the DoD Cybersecurity Scholarship Program administered by the Department of Defense;
(5) the Cybersecurity Talent Initiative administered by the Partnership for Public Service;
(6) the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity administered by the National Security Agency;
(7) the Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award;
(8) Career Technical Education (CTE) CyberNet local academies administered by the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education of the Department of Education;
(9) the GenCyber Program administered by the National Security Agency, in collaboration with the National Science Foundation;
(10) widely used resources, including CareerOneStop, Occupational Outlook Handbook, and O*NET OnLine administered by the Department of Labor; and
(11) the Registered Apprenticeship Program administered by the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor; and
Whereas ensuring access to cybersecurity education for all students in the United States regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sex, or geographic location will expand opportunities for high-earning jobs in high-demand fields: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) designates June 2022 as “National Cybersecurity Education Month”;
(2) invites individuals and organizations in the United States—
(A) to recognize the essential role of cybersecurity education; and
(B) to support Federal, State, and local educational efforts;
(3) encourages educational and training institutions to increase the understanding and awareness of cybersecurity education at such institutions; and
(4) commits to—
(A) raising awareness about cybersecurity education; and
(B) taking legislative action in support of cybersecurity education to effectively build and sustain a skilled cybersecurity workforce.
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