[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5067 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5067
To authorize the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency to establish an apprenticeship program and to establish
a pilot program on cybersecurity training for veterans and members of
the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 22, 2026
Ms. Hassan (for herself and Mr. Cornyn) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency to establish an apprenticeship program and to establish
a pilot program on cybersecurity training for veterans and members of
the Armed Forces transitioning to civilian life, and for other
purposes.
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 ``Federal Cybersecurity Workforce
Expansion Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the need for qualified cybersecurity personnel is
greater than ever, as demonstrated by the recent SolarWinds
breach and the growing spate of ransomware attacks on critical
infrastructure entities and State and local governments;
(2) the Federal Government is facing a shortage of
qualified cybersecurity personnel, as noted in a March 2019
Government Accountability Office report on critical staffing
needs in the Federal cybersecurity workforce;
(3) there is a national shortage of qualified cybersecurity
personnel, and according to CyberSeek, a project supported by
the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education within the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, there are
approximately 500,000 cybersecurity job openings around the
United States;
(4) in May 2021, the Department announced that the
Department was initiating a 60-day sprint to hire 200
cybersecurity personnel across the Department, with 100 of
those hires for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security
Agency, to address a cybersecurity workforce shortage; and
(5) the Federal Government needs to--
(A) expand the cybersecurity workforce pipeline of
the Federal Government to sustainably close a Federal
cybersecurity workforce shortage; and
(B) work cooperatively with the private sector and
State and local government authorities to expand
opportunities for new cybersecurity professionals.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Homeland Security.
(2) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Homeland Security.
SEC. 4. CYBERSECURITY APPRENTICESHIP PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Area career and technical education school.--The term
``area career and technical education school'' has the meaning
given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
(2) Community college.--The term ``community college''
means a public institution of higher education at which the
highest degree that is predominantly awarded to students is an
associate's degree, including--
(A) a 2-year Tribal College or University, as
defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c); and
(B) a public 2-year State institution of higher
education.
(3) Competitive service.--The term ``competitive service''
has the meaning given the term in section 2102 of title 5,
United States Code.
(4) Cyber workforce position.--The term ``cyber workforce
position'' means a position identified as having information
technology, cybersecurity, or other cyber-related functions
under section 303 of the Federal Cybersecurity Workforce
Assessment Act of 2015 (5 U.S.C. 301 note).
(5) Early college high school; educational service agency;
local educational agency; secondary school; state educational
agency.--The terms ``early college high school'', ``educational
service agency'', ``local educational agency'', ``secondary
school'', and ``State educational agency'' have the meanings
given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(6) Education and training provider.--The term ``education
and training provider'' means--
(A) an area career and technical education school;
(B) an early college high school;
(C) an educational service agency;
(D) a high school;
(E) a local educational agency or State educational
agency;
(F) a Tribal educational agency (as defined in
section 6132 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7452)), Tribally controlled
college or university (as defined in section 2(a) of
the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities
Assistance Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801(a))), or
Tribally controlled postsecondary career and technical
institution (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D.
Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20
U.S.C. 2302));
(G) a postsecondary educational institution, as
defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302);
(H) a minority-serving institution;
(I) a provider of adult education and literacy
activities under the Adult Education and Family
Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3271 et seq.);
(J) a local agency administering plans under title
I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 720 et
seq.), other than section 112 or part C of that title
(29 U.S.C. 732, 741);
(K) a related instruction provider, including a
qualified intermediary acting as a related instruction
provider as approved by a registration agency;
(L) a Job Corps center, as defined in section 142
of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29
U.S.C. 3192), provided that the participation of the
Job Corps center is consistent with the outcomes for
Job Corps students described in section 141 of that Act
(29 U.S.C. 3191);
(M) a YouthBuild program, as defined in section
171(b) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(29 U.S.C. 3226(b)); or
(N) a consortium of entities described in any of
subparagraphs (A) through (M).
(7) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a sponsor;
(B) a State workforce development board or State
workforce agency, or a local workforce development
board or local workforce development agency;
(C) an education and training provider;
(D) a State apprenticeship agency;
(E) an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization;
(F) an industry or sector partnership, a group of
employers, a trade association, or a professional
association that sponsors or participates in a program
under the national apprenticeship system;
(G) a Governor of a State;
(H) a labor organization or joint labor-management
organization; or
(I) a qualified intermediary.
(8) Excepted service.--The term ``excepted service'' has
the meaning given the term in section 2103 of title 5, United
States Code.
(9) Local workforce development board.--The term ``local
workforce development board'' has the meaning given the term
``local board'' in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(10) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
serving institution'' means an institution of higher education
described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
(11) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit
organization'' means an organization that is described in
section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt
from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
(12) Provider of adult education.--The term ``provider of
adult education'' has the meaning given the term ``eligible
provider'' in section 203 of the Adult Education and Family
Literacy Act (29 U.S.C. 3272).
(13) Qualified intermediary.--
(A) In general.--The term ``qualified
intermediary'' means an entity that demonstrates
expertise in building, connecting, sustaining, and
measuring the performance of partnerships described in
subparagraph (B) and serves program participants and
employers by--
(i) connecting employers to programs under
the national apprenticeship system;
(ii) assisting in the design and
implementation of such programs, including
curriculum development and delivery for related
instruction;
(iii) supporting entities, sponsors, or
program administrators in meeting the
registration and reporting requirements of this
section;
(iv) providing professional development
activities such as training to mentors;
(v) supporting the recruitment, retention,
and completion of potential program
participants, including nontraditional
apprenticeship populations and individuals with
barriers to employment;
(vi) developing and providing personalized
program participant supports, including by
partnering with organizations to provide access
to or referrals for supportive services and
financial advising;
(vii) providing services, resources, and
supports for development, delivery, expansion,
or improvement of programs under the national
apprenticeship system; or
(viii) serving as a sponsor.
(B) Partnerships.--The term ``partnerships
described in subparagraph (B)'' means partnerships
among entities involved in, or applying to participate
in, programs under the national apprenticeship system,
including--
(i) industry or sector partnerships;
(ii) partnerships among employers, joint
labor-management organizations, labor
organizations, community-based organizations,
industry associations, State or local workforce
development boards, education and training
providers, social service organizations,
economic development agencies, Indian Tribes or
Tribal organizations, one-stop operators, one-
stop partners, or veterans service
organizations in the State workforce
development system; or
(iii) partnerships among 1 or more of the
entities described in clause (i) or (ii).
(14) Related instruction.--The term ``related instruction''
means an organized and systematic form of instruction designed
to provide an individual in an apprenticeship program with the
knowledge of the technical subjects related to the intended
occupation of the individual after completion of the program.
(15) Sponsor.--The term ``sponsor'' means any person,
association, committee, or organization operating an
apprenticeship program and in whose name the program is, or is
to be, registered or approved.
(16) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given the
term in section 2 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6
U.S.C. 101).
(17) State apprenticeship agency.--The term ``State
apprenticeship agency'' has the meaning given the term in
section 29.2 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, or any
corresponding similar regulation or ruling.
(18) State workforce development board.--The term ``State
workforce development board'' has the meaning given the term
``State board'' in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(19) WIOA terms.--The terms ``career planning'', ``career
pathway'', ``community-based organization'', ``economic
development agency'', ``industry or sector partnership'', ``on-
the-job training'', ``one-stop operator'', ``one-stop
partner'', ``recognized postsecondary credential'', and
``workplace learning advisor'' have the meanings given those
terms in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity
Act (29 U.S.C. 3102).
(b) Establishment of Apprenticeship Pilot Program.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish an
apprenticeship pilot program.
(2) Requirements.--The apprenticeship pilot program
established under paragraph (1) shall--
(A) employ pilot program participants in cyber
workforce positions within the Department;
(B) employ not more than 25 new pilot program
participants during each year during which the pilot
program is carried out;
(C) be intended to lead to employment in a cyber
workforce position within a Federal agency;
(D) focus on related learning necessary, as
determined by the Secretary in consultation with the
Director of the Office of Personnel Management and
based upon the National Initiative for Cybersecurity
Education Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NIST
Special Publication 800-181, Revision 1), or successor
framework, to meet the immediate and ongoing needs of
cyber workforce positions within Federal agencies;
(E) be registered with and approved by the Office
of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor or a State
apprenticeship agency pursuant to the Act of August 16,
1937 (commonly known as the ``National Apprenticeship
Act''; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.);
(F) be approved by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, pursuant to chapter 36 of title 38, United
States Code, or other applicable provisions of law, as
eligible for educational assistance to veterans; and
(G) be sponsored by the Department or an eligible
entity receiving a contract, cooperative agreement, or
grant under subsection (d).
(c) Coordination.--In the development of the apprenticeship pilot
program under this section, the Secretary shall consult with the
Secretary of Labor, the Director of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology, the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the National
Science Foundation, and the Director of the Office of Personnel
Management to leverage existing resources, research, communities of
practice, and frameworks for developing cybersecurity apprenticeship
programs.
(d) Optional Use of Contracts, Cooperative Agreements, or Grants.--
The apprenticeship pilot program under this section may include
entering into a contract or cooperative agreement with or making a
grant to an eligible entity if determined appropriate by the Secretary
based on the eligible entity--
(1) demonstrating experience in implementing and providing
career planning and career pathways toward apprenticeship
programs;
(2) having knowledge of cybersecurity workforce
development;
(3) being eligible to enter into a contract or cooperative
agreement with or receive grant funds from the Department as
described in this section;
(4) providing participants who complete the apprenticeship
pilot program with 1 or more recognized postsecondary
credentials;
(5) using related instruction that is specifically aligned
with the needs of Federal agencies and utilizes workplace
learning advisors and on-the-job training to the greatest
extent possible; and
(6) demonstrating successful outcomes connecting
participants in apprenticeship programs to careers relevant to
the apprenticeship pilot program.
(e) Applications.--If the Secretary enters into an arrangement as
described in subsection (d), an eligible entity seeking a contract,
cooperative agreement, or grant under the pilot program shall submit to
the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(f) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities to receive a
contract, cooperative agreement, or grant under subsection (d), the
Secretary may prioritize an eligible entity that--