14 DAY TRIAL // Congresswoman Jacklyn Sheryl Rosen introduced the Cyber Ready Workforce Act bill which would instruct the US Department of Labor to help in the creation of a cybersecurity apprenticeship grant program.
As detailed by the bipartisan bill signed by both Democrat and Republican representatives, the cybersecurity apprenticeship program would allow workforce intermediaries to provide grant participants with workplace training, technical instruction, as well as certifications when needed.
“I’m committed to ensuring that businesses and government have the skilled people and critical tools they need to enhance our nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure, help industry thrive, and strengthen our national security," said Rosen in a press release.
According to the unveiled bill, CompTIA Network +, A+ Hardware, A+ Software, and Security+, Microsoft Windows 10 Technician, Certified System Administrator, Certified Network Defender, and Certified Ethical Hacker, are some of the industry-recognized certifications program members will receive.
This new legislation proposal follows bug bounty and vulnerability disclosure policy initiatives
The legislation proposal comes as a direct result of the lack of specialists in the USA cybersecurity field, with more than 300,000 openings available at this time on the job market in the United States.
Moreover, the bill is designed to allow the government to fill the lack of cybersecurity experts using the new grant program to be implemented once the bill is signed by the POTUS.
The cybersecurity apprenticeship program is supposed to be the starting point for new "computer support specialists, cybersecurity support technicians, computer programmers, computer systems analysts, or security specialists."
Additionally, Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21) declared that “as the Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, I am pleased to introduce this bipartisan bill that will help equip our workforce with the jobs of tomorrow and strengthen our nation’s cybersecurity capabilities."
The newly unveiled cybersecurity apprenticeship legislation comes right after yesterday, the House Committee on Homeland Security advanced a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) bug bounty pilot program bill and an amendment to a proposal designed to establish a DHS vulnerability disclosure policy.