DHS CYBERSECURITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ACT

On 2024-12-10, Representative Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY-9) delivered a floor speech titled "DHS CYBERSECURITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ACT" in the House. The speech addressed immigration and also covered taxes, the environment. It referenced legislation: HR9689.

DHS CYBERSECURITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)] [House] [Pages H6564-H6565] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] DHS CYBERSECURITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ACT Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 9689) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 9689 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act''. SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CYBERSECURITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.". (a) Program.--Subtitle D of title XIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``SEC. 1334. CYBERSECURITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. ``(a) Program.--The Secretary shall carry out a cybersecurity internship program (in this section referred to as the `Program') under which an eligible individual participates in a paid cybersecurity internship at the Department with duties aligned to such participant's respective education, skills, and experience. ``(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to participate in the Program, an individual shall-- ``(1) be a citizen of the United States; ``(2) be at least 16 years old; and ``(3) be enrolled in a secondary school, technical, trade, or vocational school, or institution of higher education, in accordance with subsection (c). ``(c) Composition.--The Secretary shall, as practicable, ensure that participants selected for the Program for each intern class include students enrolled in each of the following: ``(1) Secondary schools. ``(2) Junior or community colleges. ``(3) Undergraduate degree programs. ``(4) Postgraduate degree programs. ``(5) Technical, trade, or vocational schools. ``(d) Reports.-- ``(1) Reports.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the Program. ``(2) Matters.--Each report under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the most recent Program year, the following: ``(A) A description of outreach efforts by the Secretary to raise awareness of the Program among secondary schools and institutions of higher education, including among junior or community colleges, historically-Black colleges and universities, and other minority-serving institutions. ``(B) Information on specific recruiting efforts by the Secretary to increase participation in the Program. ``(C) The number of individuals participating in the Program, listed by the type of school or program in which the individual is enrolled at the time of participation, and information on the nature of each such participation, including Department components supported, and the duties of each such individual. ``(3) Consolidation.--Reports submitted under this subsection may be consolidated with the reports required under section 1333(e). ``(e) Definitions.--In this section: ``(1) Historically black college or university.--The term `historically Black college or university' has the meaning given the term `part B institution' in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061). ``(2) Institution of higher education.--The term `institution of higher education' has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). ``(3) Junior or community college.--The term `junior or community college' has the meaning given that term in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058). ``(4) Minority-serving institution.--The term `minority- serving institution' means an eligible institution of higher education described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). ``(5) Secondary school.--The term `secondary school' means a school or program that provides secondary education, as determined under State law, except that the term does not include any education beyond grade 12. ``(6) Technical, trade, or vocational school.--The term `technical, trade, or vocational school' has the meaning given that term in section 411.167 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1333 the following new item: ``Sec. 1334. Cybersecurity internship program.''. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee. General Leave Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 9689. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Tennessee? There was no objection. Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9689, the DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act. I thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke), for her work on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, according to testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security earlier this year, there are approximately 2,000 cybersecurity vacancies at the Department of Homeland Security. Recent cyber intrusions like the Salt Typhoon telecom breach demonstrate the urgent need to fill those empty desks. That is why I have introduced H.R. 9689, the DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act. This bill codifies DHS' cyber internship program, helping ensure DHS continues to expand its efforts to support individuals seeking to join the cyber workforce. [[Page H6565]] Internships are particularly valuable for building the workforce because they help build the connection from school to work. For students, they provide critical work experience that can help launch their careers with the practical skills they will need in the workforce. For the Department, internships can help support the cyber mission while building a pipeline to future employment at DHS. Importantly, these internships are paid, ensuring the program is accessible to all. This summer, 85 interns participated in DHS' new cyber internship program. Enacting this legislation will ensure that DHS continues the program while adding new oversight requirements to keep Congress informed on how the Department is recruiting interns and utilizing the program to support its cyber mission. Additionally, my legislation directs the Department to meet cyber talent where it is, whether in high school, community and 4-year colleges, technical schools, or graduate school. Recruiting cyber talent from a broad range of educational institutions will result in a bigger pool of applicants and reflect best practices that more employers should implement. I thank Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee Chairman Garbarino for cosponsoring this bill and my colleagues on the House Committee on Homeland Security for supporting it at our markup in September. I look forward to similar bipartisan support in the full House. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, the DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act will advance our shared goal of strengthening the American cyber workforce while supporting DHS' effort to recruit the next generation of cyber talent and to defend the homeland. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 9689, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9689, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 9689. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________

Referenced legislation: HR9689, HR9689