Cyber training and scholarships on Senate agenda

(via POLITICO) Senate lawmakers will mark up bills this week aimed at boosting cyber skills among small businesses and expanding the cyber workforce more broadly. On Wednesday, the Small Business Committee will consider legislation that would require workers at small business development centers to be certified in cyber training, and the Commerce Committee will consider a bill to expand cyber scholarships to people pursuing associate’s degrees. The scholarships bill would also create a National Science Foundation study on the success of the cyber scholarship recruiting program. Scholarships for young cyber professionals have emerged as a key tool to fill what experts say is an alarming and growing workforce shortage. Rep. Jim Langevin, co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, recently introduced an amendment to the 2018 Pentagon funding bill that would add money to DoD’s own cyber scholarship initiative.

In related news, I was happy to offer Representatives Jim Langevin and Will Hurd a tour of R00tz at DEF CON this past weekend. It is great to know that Congress is taking cybersecurity and education seriously as we face a shortage in our field.