Pilot program on cybersecurity training for veterans and military spouses

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible individual The term eligible individual means an individual who is— (A) a veteran who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 30, 32, 33, 34, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, United States Code; (B) a member of the active or a reserve component of the Armed Forces that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines will become an eligible individual under subparagraph (A) within 180 days of such determination, provided that if the individual does anything to make themselves ineligible during the 180-day period, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may require the individual to repay any benefits received under this section; or (C) an eligible spouse described in section 1784a(b) of title 10, United States Code. (2) Recognized postsecondary credential The term recognized postsecondary credential has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102). (3) Veteran The term veteran has the meaning given the term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code. (4) Work-based learning The term work-based learning has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302). (b) Establishment Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish a pilot program to provide cybersecurity training at no cost to eligible individuals. (c) Elements The pilot program established under subsection (b) shall incorporate— (1) coursework and training that, if applicable, qualifies for postsecondary credit toward an associate or baccalaureate degree at an institution of higher education; (2) virtual learning opportunities; (3) hands-on learning and performance-based assessments; (4) Federal work-based learning opportunities and programs; and (5) the provision of recognized postsecondary credentials to eligible individuals who complete the pilot program. (d) Alignment with NICE workforce framework for cybersecurity The pilot program established under subsection (b) shall align with the taxonomy, including work roles and competencies and the associated tasks, knowledge, and skills, from the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NIST Special Publication 800–181, Revision 1), or successor framework. (e) Coordination (1) Training, platforms, and frameworks In developing the pilot program under subsection (b), the Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to evaluate and, where possible, leverage existing training, platforms, and frameworks of the Federal Government for providing cybersecurity education and training to prevent duplication of efforts. (2) Existing educational assistance In developing the pilot program under subsection (b), the Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, eligible individuals can utilize educational assistance under chapter 30, 32, 33, 34, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, United States Code, or other educational assistance available to eligible individuals, such as the high technology pilot program described in section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (38 U.S.C. 3001 note), while participating in the program. (3) Federal work-based learning opportunities and programs In developing the Federal work-based learning opportunities and programs required under subsection (c)(4), the Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Labor, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies to identify or create, as necessary, interagency opportunities that will enable the pilot program established under subsection (b) to— (A) allow the participants to acquire and demonstrate competencies; and (B) give participants the capabilities necessary to qualify for Federal employment. (f) Resources (1) In general In any case in which the pilot program established under subsection (b)— (A) uses training, platforms, and frameworks described in subsection (e)(1), the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that the trainings, platforms, and frameworks are expanded and resourced to accommodate usage by eligible individuals participating in the pilot program; or (B) does not use training, platforms, and frameworks described in subsection (e)(1), the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall take such actions as may be necessary to develop or procure training, platforms, and frameworks necessary to carry out the requirements of subsection (c) and accommodate the usage by eligible individuals participating in the pilot program. (2) Actions Actions described in paragraph (1) may include providing additional funding, staff, or other resources to— (A) recruit and retain women, underrepresented minorities, and individuals from other underrepresented communities; (B) provide administrative support for basic functions of the pilot program; (C) ensure the success and ongoing engagement of eligible individuals participating in the pilot program; (D) connect participants who complete the pilot program to job opportunities within the Federal Government; and (E) allocate dedicated positions for term employment to enable Federal work-based learning opportunities and programs, as required under subsection (c)(4), for participants to gain the competencies necessary to pursue permanent Federal employment. (g) Reports (1) Secretary Not later than 2 years after the date on which the pilot program is established under subsection (b), and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program, including— (A) a description of— (i) any activity carried out by the Department under this section; and (ii) the existing training, platforms, and frameworks of the Federal Government leveraged in accordance with subsection (e)(1); and (B) an assessment of the results achieved by the pilot program, including— (i) the admittance rate into the pilot program; (ii) the demographics of participants in the program, including representation of women, underrepresented minorities, and individuals from other underrepresented communities; (iii) the completion rate for the pilot program, including if there are any identifiable patterns with respect to participants who do not complete the pilot program; (iv) as applicable, the transfer rates to other academic or vocational programs, and certifications and licensure exam passage rates; (v) the rate of continued employment within a Federal agency for participants after completing the pilot program; (vi) the rate of continued employment for participants after completing the pilot program; and (vii) the median annual salary of participants who completed the pilot program and were subsequently employed. (2) Comptroller general Not later than 4 years after the date on which the pilot program is established under subsection (b), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the pilot program, including the recommendation of the Comptroller General with respect to whether the pilot program should be extended. (h) Termination The authority to carry out the pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date on which the Secretary establishes the pilot program under this section.