WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), released the following statement after the Committee voted to unanimously pass the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act – bipartisan legislation she introduced with Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
“With federal agencies experiencing a consistent shortage of cyber talent and the United States facing unprecedented cyberattacks, maintaining a surge capacity is critical to keeping our nation safe. The Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act will ensure that the federal government is able to mobilize qualified civilian cybersecurity personnel in times of crisis,” said Senator Rosen. “I’m proud to see that my bipartisan bill has passed today’s Committee mark-up and can head to the Senate floor, bringing it one step closer to becoming law. I will continue working to ensure that our nation has the cyber experts needed to prevent and respond to cyberattacks swiftly and effectively.”
BACKGROUND: According to the Government Accountability Office, the consistent shortage of cyber security personnel represents a high risk to national security. To address this shortage, the bipartisan Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act establishes a civilian cyber security reserve pilot program, which authorizes cybersecurity reservists to provide surge capacity in response to significant incidents. Activated personnel would serve in temporary positions, for up to six months, as Federal civil service employees to supplement existing cybersecurity personnel. Participation would be voluntary and by invitation only. The legislation is modeled after recommendations from the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service and Cyberspace Solarium Commission reports to establish a cyber security reserve corps.
###
