S. 438

107 S438 IS: Providing Individuals Various Opportunities for Technical Training to Build a Skills-Based Cyber Workforce Act of 2025
 U.S. Senate
 2025-02-05
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  S. 438  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   February 5, 2025   Mr. Rounds  (for himself and  Mr. Peters ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs    A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for education and training programs and resources of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Providing Individuals Various Opportunities for Technical Training to Build a Skills-Based Cyber Workforce Act of 2025   or the   Cyber PIVOTT Act of 2025  .
2.
CISA education and training programs and resources
(a)
In general
Subtitle D of title XIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( Public Law 107–296 ; 116 Stat. 2298 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
1334.
CISA education and training programs and resources
(a)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Armed Forces
The term  Armed Forces  has the meaning given the term  armed forces  in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
(2)
Community college
The term  community college  has the meaning given the term in section 5002 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 ( 15 U.S.C. 9401 ).
(3)
Cyber-relevant
The term  cyber-relevant  means an area of national security that would impact the cyber resiliency of the United States, including relating to operational technology, critical infrastructure, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, security awareness, or computer science.
(4)
Director
The term  Director  means the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
(5)
Executive agency
The term  Executive agency  has the meaning given the term in section 105 of title 5, United States Code.
(6)
Institution of higher education
The term  institution of higher education  has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) ).
(7)
NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework
The term  NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework  means the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework (NIST Special Publication 800–181, revision 1, published November 16, 2020).
(8)
Participating institution
The term  participating institution  means a community college, technical school, or other institution of higher education offering 2-year programs with which the Director has entered into a partnership or other arrangement as described in subsection (b)(1)(A).
(9)
Program
The term  Program  means the  Providing Individuals Various Opportunities for Technical Training to Build a Skills-Based Cyber Workforce Program  or the  PIVOTT Program  established under subsection (b)(1).
(10)
Skills-based exercise
The term  skills-based exercise  means a condensed program lasting not less than 1 day that focuses on practice and application, rather than research and study.
(11)
Technical school
The term  technical school  has the meaning given the term in section 411.167 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations.
(12)
University-level educator
The term  university-level educator  means an educator that teaches at the level of an institution of higher education.
(b)
Expanding education and training programs and resources to community colleges, technical schools, and other institutions of higher education offering 2-Year programs
(1)
Establishment of PIVOTT Program
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Director shall establish a program—
(A)
under which the Director shall seek to enter into partnerships or other arrangements with community colleges, technical schools, and other institutions of higher education offering 2-year programs to establish educational and training programs and facilitate internship and post-graduation Federal job opportunities at participating institutions; and
(B)
that shall be known as the  Providing Individuals Various Opportunities for Technical Training to Build a Skills-Based Cyber Workforce Program  or the  PIVOTT Program .
(2)
Student qualifications
(A)
Eligibility
The following categories of students shall be eligible to participate in the Program:
(i)
Students who are enrolled in but who have not yet started a 2-year cyber or cyber-relevant associate’s degree program or comparable technical certification, as determined by the Director, at a participating institution.
(ii)
Students who are currently enrolled in their first semester of a 2-year cyber or cyber-relevant associate’s degree program or comparable technical certification, as determined by the Director, at a participating institution.
(iii)
Students identified by the Director who are eligible and qualified to enroll in a 2-year degree cyber or cyber-relevant associate’s degree program or comparable technical certification at a participating institution, such as individuals who are pursuing a career change, have a high school diploma or equivalent, or would be considered entry-level employees.
(iv)
Students enrolled in technical certifications at participating institutions that are less than 2 years in duration but—
(I)
align with Tasks, Knowledge, and Skills, as described in the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework; and
(II)
prepare students to serve in Federal, State, local, Tribal, or territorial government cyber or cyber-relevant roles.
(B)
Scholarships
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall provide students participating in the Program with full tuition scholarships, including academic fees, lab fees, travel, lodging, per diem, stipends, internship costs, costs associated with virtual participation, certification testing fees, and any other expenses the Director determines necessary to complete any requirement under the Program, including for participation in 1 in-person skills-based exercise in accordance with paragraph (4)(B), including travel, lodging, meals, in-person or in-laboratory post-course assessments fees, and other necessary expenses as determined by the Director.
(C)
Service obligation
(i)
In general
Each student who participates in and completes the Program shall fulfill a 2-year service obligation in a cyber or cyber-relevant role, as described in the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework or the Department of Defense Cyber Workforce Framework, to advance the cyber mission of an Executive agency or a State, local, Tribal, or territorial government.
(ii)
Exception
The service obligation specified in clause (i) shall not apply to any student who—
(I)
has completed a term of service in the Armed Forces that is equal to the service obligation specified in clause (i);
(II)
is currently serving in the Armed Forces; or
(III)
pursues service in the Armed Forces in a cyber or cyber-relevant role during or immediately after the date on which the student completes the Program.
(iii)
Delayed service
Any student who, immediately after the date on which the student completes the Program, enrolls in a 4-year degree program may complete the service obligation specified in clause (i) after receiving such 4-year degree.
(D)
Program completion timeline
(i)
In general
Each student who participates in the Program shall complete participation in the Program not later than 4 years after the date on which the student begins the Program, or pursuant to rules of the relevant participating institution if such rules are in effect at the time the student begins such participation.
(ii)
Process for updated completion timeline
(I)
Application for waiver
Any student who experiences extreme hardship during participation in the Program may submit to the Director an application to waive the application of the timeline specified in clause (i).
(II)
Determination
The Director, in consultation with the appropriate participating institution, shall determine on a case-by-case basis whether a student who submits an application for a waiver under subclause (I) may be granted additional time to complete the Program.
(3)
Institutional requirements
A community college, technical school, or other institution of higher education is eligible to participate in the Program if the community college, technical school, or institution of higher education is—
(A)
a participant in the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program; or
(B)
determined eligible by the Director, taking into consideration—
(i)
whether the virtual or in-person course offerings of the community college, technical school, or institution of higher education align with career pathways, as described in the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework; and
(ii)
the presence of a cybersecurity clinic on campus.
(4)
Program components
(A)
In general
In accordance with subparagraph (C), students participating in the Program shall complete a minimum of 4 eligible skills-based exercises described in subparagraph (B).
(B)
Eligible skills-based exercises
Eligible skills-based exercises described in this subparagraph may include the following:
(i)
Laboratory work.
(ii)
Competitions such as hackathons, challenges, and capture the flag.
(iii)
Virtual programming.
(iv)
Table-top exercises.
(v)
Industry training workshops.
(vi)
Exercises in a box.
(C)
Provision
(i)
In general
The Director shall coordinate with participating institutions to provide not fewer than 1 skills-based exercise required under subparagraph (A) each semester.
(ii)
Student requirements
Students participating in the Program shall complete not fewer than 1 of the 4 skills-based exercises required under subparagraph (A) in person.
(iii)
Administration of exercises
The Director, in coordination with participating institutions, shall offer not fewer than 1 in-person skills-based exercise to Program participants every 2 years.
(iv)
Coordination
The Director shall coordinate and may jointly offer the skills-based exercises required under subparagraph (A) with the following:
(I)
Other Federal agencies, such as the Department of Defense, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Security Agency, and the Office of the National Cyber Director, as appropriate.
(II)
Non-Federal entities with cyber or cyber-relevant expertise, including cybersecurity clinics.
(v)
Exception
A student participating in the Program who is unable to complete a skills-based exercise required under subparagraph (A) may submit to the participating institution a proposal for a comparable skills-based exercise, as determined by the Director.
(D)
Internships
(i)
In general
The Director and participating institutions shall, as a core requirement of the Program, coordinate with appropriate entities to place students participating in the Program in an approved cyber or cyber-relevant internship, as determined by the Director, with any of the following:
(I)
A State, local, Tribal, or territorial government entity.
(II)
A critical infrastructure owner or operator that is located in a rural community or is considered to be a high-risk sector, as determined by the Director.
(III)
A Federal department or agency, including with the Regional Security Advisors program of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
(ii)
Prioritization
A student who has communicated in writing to the Director or the appropriate participating institution during the internship placement process that the student intends to serve in a Federal Government position beyond the obligations of the student under paragraph (2)(C) shall be prioritized for Federal cyber internship opportunities that require a security clearance.
(iii)
Current Federal employees
The Director shall coordinate with the heads of appropriate Federal agencies to establish an approved cyber or cyber-relevant internship program for students participating in the Program who are Federal employees.
(iv)
Security clearances
The Director shall take such actions as may be necessary to begin, not later than 1 year before an appropriate student under this subparagraph completes participation in the Program, the process to provide the student with an appropriate security clearance.
(5)
Outreach initiatives
(A)
CISA
(i)
Responsibilities of Director
The Director shall—
(I)
conduct regional outreach initiatives, including at institutions designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, and provide informational materials about the Program—
(aa)
at each regional office of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency; and
(bb)
to industry partners to promote the Program; and
(II)
seek to engage with industry stakeholders to produce an annual report—
(aa)
on industry-relevant skills intended to inform the skills-based exercises offered under the Program; and
(bb)
that—
(AA)
may include input from an advisory committee, established by the Director and composed of university-level educators; and
(BB)
shall be submitted to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and each year thereafter.
(ii)
FACA exemption
 Chapter 10  of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply to the advisory committee established by the Director under clause (i)(II)(bb)(AA).
(B)
Recruitment fair
(i)
In general
Each fiscal year, the Director, in coordination with the National Cyber Director, shall host a voluntary Federal Government recruitment fair that includes Federal Government agency representatives who seek to recruit for vacant cybersecurity positions.
(ii)
Information regarding recruitment fair
The Director shall post information regarding the recruitment fair required under clause (i) on a dedicated website of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
(iii)
Hosting of recruitment fair
Each recruitment fair required under clause (i)—
(I)
may be hosted online or in-person; and
(II)
shall be hosted at not fewer than 5 participating institutions.
(6)
Program completion benefits
(A)
Database
The Director, leveraging existing educational content repositories, shall maintain an online database that shall—
(i)
provide cyber training and education resources, mapped to job roles set forth in the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, and information relating to Federal job opportunities in cyber or cyber-relevant fields; and
(ii)
be made available for access by, as appropriate, students who have successfully completed the Program.
(B)
Certification program
(i)
List of certification programs
The Director shall establish and update annually a list of existing cyber certification programs developed or offered by entities in the private sector, academia, nonprofits, or other institutions, as determined by the Director.
(ii)
Funding
The Secretary, acting through the Director, may fund, through vouchers requested by a student participating in the program, not more than 3 certifications and associated certification examinations per student from the list established under clause (i), provided that any such student shall have completed the Program and requested the voucher not later than 10 years after the date on which the student completed the Program.
(C)
Additional scholarship opportunities for students who complete the program
(i)
In general
The Director may select, pursuant to an application process designed by Director, not more than 10 students per year who have completed the Program and have been employed by the Federal Government for not less than 7 years to be eligible for scholarships to be applied to cyber or cyber-relevant degree programs offered at institutions designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity.
(ii)
Amounts
Scholarship amounts under this subparagraph shall be determined by the Director, subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose.
(7)
Terms of Program scholarship
(A)
In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a scholarship recipient under this section shall be liable to the United States for repayment of a scholarship awarded to the recipient as provided under subsection (e) if the recipient—
(i)
fails to maintain an acceptable level of academic standing at the participating institution, as determined by the Director;
(ii)
is dismissed from the participating institution for disciplinary reasons;
(iii)
withdraws from the eligible degree program before completing the Program;
(iv)
declares that the recipient does not intend to fulfill the post-award employment obligation under this section; or
(v)
fails to maintain or fulfill the post-graduation government service or post-award obligations or requirements of such recipient.
(B)
Exception
The Director may, on a case-by-case basis, exempt from liability for repayment a scholarship awarded to a student who is participating or has participated in the Program if the relevant student—
(i)
enlists or commissions in the Armed Forces prior to completion of the Program; or
(ii)
has a documented history of demonstrated effort to secure a position with a Federal, State, local, Tribal, or territorial government within 2 years after the date on which the student completes the Program but who is not offered such a position.
(c)
Monitoring compliance
As a condition of participation in the Program, a participating institution shall enter into an agreement with the Director to monitor the compliance of recipients of scholarships awarded under this section with respect to the post-award employment obligations of such recipients.
(d)
Amount of repayment
If a circumstance described in subsection (b)(7)(A) occurs before the completion of 1 year of a post-scholarship employment obligation under this section, the total amount of scholarship awards received by an individual under this section shall—
(1)
be repaid to the Department immediately; or
(2)
be treated as a loan to be repaid in accordance with subsection (e).
(e)
Repayments
A loan referred to subsection (d)(2) shall—
(1)
be treated as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan under part D of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087a et seq. ); and
(2)
be subject to repayment, together with interest thereon accruing from the date of the scholarship award, in accordance with terms and conditions specified by the Secretary (in consultation with the Secretary of Education) in regulations promulgated to carry out this subsection.
(f)
Collection of repayment
(1)
In general
If a scholarship recipient is required to repay a scholarship under this section—
(A)
the Secretary shall determine the repayment amounts and notify such recipient of the amount owed; and
(B)
the Secretary, or a participating institution acting on behalf of the Secretary, shall collect such amount within a period of time as determined by the Secretary, or such amount shall be treated as a loan in accordance with subsection (e).
(2)
Returned to the Department
Except as provided in paragraph (3), any repayment under this subsection shall be returned to the Department.
(3)
Retention of percentage
(A)
In general
A participating institution may retain a percentage of any repayment the participating institution collects under this subsection to defray administrative costs associated with the collection of such repayment.
(B)
Percentage applicable
The Secretary shall establish a single, fixed percentage that participating institutions may retain from repayments collected under subparagraph (A) that shall be applicable to all participating institutions.
(g)
Exceptions
The Secretary may provide for the partial or total waiver or suspension of any repayment obligation by a scholarship recipient under this section if compliance by the scholarship recipient with the repayment obligation is impossible or would involve extreme hardship to the scholarship recipient.
(h)
Timeline for implementation
(1)
In general
The Director and participating institutions shall seek to enroll in the Program, subject to the availability of appropriations, not fewer than 250 students for the first full academic year of the Program that begins 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section.
(2)
Growth of program
Beginning with the second full academic year of the Program, the Director and participating institutions shall seek to enroll in the Program each full academic year, subject to the availability of appropriations, not fewer than double the number of students enrolled in the immediately preceding full academic year until the number of such students reaches 1,000 each full academic year.
(3)
Plan for 10,000 students
(A)
Development of plan
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Director and participating institutions shall develop a plan, subject to capacity and administrative capabilities, to enroll by not later than 10 years after the date of the establishment of the Program not fewer than 10,000 students in the Program each academic year.
(B)
Briefing
The Director shall brief the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives regarding such plan.
(i)
Report on enrollment goals
If the Director and participating institutions fail in any academic year to meet the minimum quota specified in paragraph (1) or (2), as the case may be, of subsection (h), the Director shall brief the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives not later than 30 days after the conclusion of that academic year.
 .
(b)
Clerical amendment
The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( Public Law 107–296 ; 116 Stat. 2135) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1333 the following new item:
Sec. 1334. CISA education and training programs and resources.
  .
(c)
Review of CISA education, training programs and resources
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a review of the education and training programs of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which shall evaluate the cost, reach, and current demand of those programs, including relating to any resource gaps in any of those programs.
(d)
Promoting Cybercorps Scholarship for Service as a gold standard program
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on current support provided by the Department of Homeland Security to the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service Program, including opportunities to provide additional funding to the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service Program under existing training and education programs of the Department of Homeland Security.