King Backs Bipartisan Push for Cybersecurity Training at HBCUs, Schools with Higher Student Diversity

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Office of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today announced that Senator King, co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC), is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to fund job training initiatives in cybersecurity studies at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Cybersecurity Opportunity Act, which was authored by Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and also backed by Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.), will create the a grant program aimed at expanding cybersecurity training programs at Historically Black Colleges and colleges that serve a high proportion of Pell Grant recipients nationwide. The legislation requires 50 percent of funds must go to HBCUs and Minority-serving institutions in order to support greater diversity and equality of opportunity in the cybersecurity field

"Every day, cyberattacks on American institutions threaten our government, our economy, and our national security," said Senator King. "The problem will only grow more severe in the years ahead, which is why we need to take immediate steps to strengthen our cyber workforce. This bipartisan legislation will strengthen cybersecurity job training at America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities, creating opportunities for students in a growing field and providing an infusion of talented young people into this increasingly-vital profession."

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and co-chair of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, Senator King is recognized as one of Congress's leading experts on cyberdefense and a strong advocate for a forward-thinking cyberstrategy that emphasizes layered cyberdeterrence. He celebrated the swearing-in of former CSC commissioner, Chris Inglis, as the inaugural National Cyber Director (NCD). The NCD was included in the 25 bipartisan cybersecurity recommendations from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission passed through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, which Senator King voted for.

The CSC was established by statute in the 2019 NDAA, officially launched in April 2019, and will continue to execute its statutory mission through December 2021 -- most recently announcing its "progress report" with 75 percent of its recommendations either having become policy or nearly there. The Commissioners convened nearly every Monday that Congress was in session for a year, and its staff conducted more than 400 engagements, drawing upon the expertise of corporate leaders, federal, state and local officials, academics, and cybersecurity experts. The meetings and the ensuing report sought to strengthen America's posture in cyberspace and identify opportunities to improve our national preparedness to defend ourselves against cyberattacks.

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