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H.R. 1981 115th Congress House

Cyber Security Education and Federal Workforce Enhancement Act

Official title: To codify an office within the Department of Homeland Security with the mission of strengthening the capacity of the agency to attract and retain highly traine… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To codify an office within the Department of Homeland Security with the mission of strengthening the capacity of the agency to attract and retain highly trained computer and information security professionals, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 6, 2017 See on congress.gov
Emergency Management Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesComputer security and identity theftComputers and information technology
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Congressional oversightDepartment of Homeland SecurityEducation programs fundingEducational facilities and institutionsEducational technology and distance educationElementary and secondary educationEmployment and training programsExecutive agency funding and structureGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationHomeland securityMinority educationPublic-private cooperationResearch administration and fundingScience and engineering educationTeaching, teachers, curricula
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 25, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.
Apr 19, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection.
Apr 6, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 6, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 25, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Cyber Security Education and Federal Workforce Enhancement Act

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) an Office of Cybersecurity Education and Awareness Branch to make recommendations to DHS regarding: (1) recruitment of information assurance, cybersecurity, and computer security professionals; (2) grants, training programs, and other support for kindergarten through grade 12, secondary, and post-secondary computer security education programs; (3) guest lecturer programs in which professional computer security experts lecture computer science students at institutions of higher education; (4) youth training programs for students to work in part-time or summer positions at federal agencies; and (5) programs to support underrepresented minorities in computer security fields with programs at minority-serving institutions and rural colleges and universities.

DHS must provide matching funds to local educational agencies for after-school programs dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The bill provides for the establishment of:

  • a Research K-12 Science and Technology Education Board of Advisors;
  • a Computing and Information Security Post-Secondary Education Working Group to assist DHS in developing voluntary guidelines for federal civil agency training programs, certification authorities, and accreditation bodies;
  • a Post-Secondary Laboratory Research Development Task Force to recommend best practices for college and university laboratory facilities;
  • an Office of Computing and Information Security Professional's Mentoring Program;
  • a program under which DHS may designate Centers of Academic Computer and Information Assurance Distinction;
  • programs in conjunction with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award grants for cybersecurity and information security professional development programs and degrees; and
  • an E-Security Fellows Program to facilitate participation in DHS's National Cybersecurity Division.

DHS may make grants to post-secondary institutions to equip computer laboratories for teaching and research purposes.

The NSF must report to Congress regarding the causes of the high dropout rates of women and minority students enrolled in STEM programs.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 935 Identical bill Cyber Security Education and Federal Workforce Enhancement Act
  • HR 53 Reintroduction of Cyber Security Education and Federal Workforce Enhancement Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1981: Cyber Security Education and Federal Workforce Enhancement Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1981/
MLA
"H.R. 1981: Cyber Security Education and Federal Workforce Enhancement Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1981/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1981, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1981/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1981: Cyber Security Education and Federal Workforce Enhancement Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1981/)
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