Senators Rosen, Blackburn, Rep. Lee, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan and Bicameral Legislation to Support & Expand Cybersecurity Apprenticeships

WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Representatives Susie Lee (D-NV-03), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) introduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation to support and expand cybersecurity apprenticeships. TheCyber Ready Workforce Actdirects the Department of Labor to establish a grant program to support the creation, implementation, and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity.
“As cyberattacks become more common and complex, we need to ensure we have the workers with the training and skills necessary to protect our cyber infrastructure and Americans’ personal data,”said Senator Rosen.“This bipartisan legislation will help fill gaps in our cybersecurity workforce and will open the door to more good-paying, cutting edge jobs for Nevadans, regardless of whether or not they have a college degree. I’ll keep working across party lines to ensure our workers have the skills needed to fill the jobs of the future.”
“With a growing number of cybersecurity job openings nationwide, America’s severe talent shortage poses a serious threat to our national security and economic growth,”said Senator Blackburn.“The bipartisan Cyber Ready Workforce Act would establish a grant program to expand registered apprenticeships, train Tennessee workers for these high-paying jobs, and build a stronger cybersecurity workforce through targeted support for our businesses, colleges, and nonprofits.”
“Whether you know it or not, cybersecurity impacts all of us, from our small businesses, to utility grids, to our national security. But we don’t have enough talent to fill these jobs — Nevada alone is facing a shortage of nearly 4,000 cybersecurity professionals,”said Congresswoman Susie Lee.“That’s why I’m reintroducing bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address this shortage by creating cybersecurity apprenticeships to recruit and train a new generation of our cybersecurity workforce. This bill will help ensure that we don’t fall behind when it comes to cybersecurity, while putting Nevada at the forefront of the high-demand, high-impact, and high-paying jobs of the future.”
“The continued shortage of cybersecurity professionals has exposed our nation to severe vulnerabilities, threatening our economy and national security. Now, more than ever, a strong cybersecurity workforce is necessary to protect our interests at home and abroad,”said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Our bipartisan, bicameral initiative will provide the next generation of cybersecurity experts the opportunity to gain in-demand skills for high-paying jobs here in Pennsylvania and across the nation without the burden of student loan debt, while fortifying our critical infrastructure and safeguarding our data systems.”
As the first computer programmer to become a U.S. Senator, Senator Rosen knows just how important cybersecurity is for our national security. Last year, sheintroduced bipartisan legislationto strengthen the cybersecurity of the U.S.’s health care system. The Department of Veterans Affairs alsoimplemented Senator Rosen’s bipartisan law, which strengthens the cybersecurity of Veterans’ personal information.