Skip to main content

Congressman Veasey Introduces the Cybersecurity Clinics Grant Program Act

October 4, 2022

Legislation Will Create Blueprint For Cybersecurity Education Programs at Community Colleges and Minority-Serving Institutions

WASHINGTON - Congressman Veasey introduced the Cybersecurity Clinics Grant Program Act, which would create a Department of Homeland Security grant program to fund higher education-based cybersecurity at community colleges and colleges minority-serving institutions. In addition, the legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to develop an experiential cybersecurity curriculum for grant recipients.

"Building the next generation of young Americans in the cyber workforce requires strategic investments in opportunities that offer a high-potential path to help increase the number of experienced cybersecurity professionals," said Congressman Veasey. "Research shows the potential for the cyber clinic model to educate young people about cybersecurity effectively. These clinics will provide students with a pathway to enter the cyber workforce with practical experience, which will only benefit our country's national security in the long run.

Cybersecurity clinics are interactive, personalized workshops that provide education on the importance of protecting devices, data and identity from physical and digital compromise. This model can allow students interested in a STEM career to get the necessary training, and real-world experience to succeed in any industry. The benefits of these clinics are two-fold:

  • Offer a high-potential path to help increase the number of experienced cybersecurity professionals and;
  • Help underrepresented civil society organizations, State and local government agencies, and small and medium-sized businesses develop their cybersecurity workforces.

Congressman Veasey's bill will help set the framework for a robust and strategic model that can help the U.S. shore up national security defenses domestically and globally. As lead experts in cyber policy, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is in a unique position to help create a vigorous curriculum that community colleges and minority-serving institutions can offer to students interested in breaking into the cyber workforce.