Brown, Stevens Introduce Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) and Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11) introduced the Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act (H.R.8469), to establish a program at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to promote the cybersecurity field to underrepresented and disadvantaged communities. The legislation requires CISA to expand existing education and outreach activities and promote cybersecurity careers to a diverse audience and was introduced with 32 other cosponsors. 

According to one estimate, there are currently over 400,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions in the United States, with these jobs taking 21% longer to fill than other tech positions. The problem has been recognized by the Biden-Harris Administration, which last year announced a National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy. The Aspen Institute estimates that only 9% of cybersecurity workers are Black, only 4% are Hispanic, only 1% are Native American, and only 24% are women. 

“Bringing diversity to the cybersecurity workforce makes our country safer, our economy stronger, and our diverse communities more prosperous. There are hundreds of thousands of good-paying, American cybersecurity jobs that need to be filled, and we will only meet this need by encouraging a wider set of people to work in this growing field. We have a diverse country, and we need a cybersecurity workforce that reflects our people, bringing new ideas, backgrounds, and experiences to the table. Workforce diversity is essential to a strong, secure, shining nation that can protect us from a range of threats now and into the future. I am proud to introduce this legislation with Congresswoman Stevens and look forward to building further support in Congress,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.

“In order to ensure the security of our cyber infrastructure we need to have the best workforce possible and that means employing Americans of all backgrounds,” said Rep. Haley Stevens. “That’s why I am proud to co-lead the Cybersecurity Workforce Act with Rep. Shontel Brown which would empower CISA to increase recruitment of cybersecurity professionals from underrepresented communities. Connecting Americans with good jobs that also protect our security interests is a win for everyone.”

Counted among the bill's original cosponsors are House Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-02), and former Assistant Leader Congressman James Clyburn (SC-06).

CISA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and is the operational lead for federal cybersecurity and the national coordinator for critical infrastructure and resilience. 

The Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act

• Establishes new diversity program at CISA: 180 days after enactment the Director of CISA shall establish a program to promote the cybersecurity field to diverse communities. 

  • Program shall be established within CISA’s Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program. 

  • CISA shall conduct outreach to promote awareness of cybersecurity employment to educators, unions, chambers of commerce, workforce development officers, schools, and other institutions. 

  • Cybersecurity is necessary for the public and private sector and is also a well-paying field. According to the Department of Labor, The median annual wage for Information Security Analysts is $120,360. 

• Program Scope: The new program created by the Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act is tasked with promoting the cybersecurity field to:

  • Disadvantaged communities

  • Older individuals

  • Racial and ethnic minorities

  • Women

  • People with disabilities

  • Geographically diverse communities

  • Socioeconomically diverse communities

  • Individuals from nontraditional educational paths 

  • Veterans

  • Individuals who were formerly incarcerated 

• Authorization of Appropriations and Reporting
  
  

  • The Diverse Cybersecurity Workforce Act authorizes $20 million annually to the Department of Homeland Security through 2030 to carry out the program.

  • The legislation requires CISA to report to Congress annually on the efficacy of the program

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