Gerald E. 'Gerry' Connolly
11/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/21/2024 13:30
Connolly, Strong Introduce Legislation to Expand and Improve CyberCorps Scholarship for Service Program
Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, and Congressman Dale Strong (R-AL), Member of the House Committees on Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Science, Space, and Technology, introduced the CyberCorps Enhancement Act of 2024, bipartisan legislation to improve and expand the existing CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) Program.
"The federal government has a lot of work to do when it comes to recruiting and retaining the next generation of the federal workforce, especially in critical fields like cybersecurity and emerging technologies," said Connolly. "This bipartisan legislation will go a long way toward strengthening our nation's cybersecurity posture by ensuring we can attract the best of the best to serve our country."
"North Alabama is a national leader in cybersecurity education, with one of the highest numbers of participants and graduates in the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program. This legislation will allow our local colleges and universities to continue to produce highly skilled, U.S.-trained cybersecurity experts to protect our national security interests and contribute to cutting-edge research," said Strong. "Strengthening this pipeline is not just about defending our nation against cyber threats-it's about creating high-paying, high-impact jobs here at home and ensuring America continues to lead the way in cybersecurity, innovation, and defense."
The CyberCorps SFS Program currently offers scholarships for up to three years of undergraduate or graduate education in cybersecurity, supporting a wide range of degrees-including Ph.D., master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees-focused on cybersecurity in fields such as AI, aerospace, quantum technologies, and more. In return, recipients commit to working in a cybersecurity role within the U.S. government for a period equal to the length of their scholarship.
The CyberCorps Enhancement Act of 2024 proposes two key improvements to the existing CyberCorps SFS Program:
"The federal government has a lot of work to do when it comes to recruiting and retaining the next generation of the federal workforce, especially in critical fields like cybersecurity and emerging technologies," said Connolly. "This bipartisan legislation will go a long way toward strengthening our nation's cybersecurity posture by ensuring we can attract the best of the best to serve our country."
"North Alabama is a national leader in cybersecurity education, with one of the highest numbers of participants and graduates in the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program. This legislation will allow our local colleges and universities to continue to produce highly skilled, U.S.-trained cybersecurity experts to protect our national security interests and contribute to cutting-edge research," said Strong. "Strengthening this pipeline is not just about defending our nation against cyber threats-it's about creating high-paying, high-impact jobs here at home and ensuring America continues to lead the way in cybersecurity, innovation, and defense."
The CyberCorps SFS Program currently offers scholarships for up to three years of undergraduate or graduate education in cybersecurity, supporting a wide range of degrees-including Ph.D., master's, bachelor's, and associate degrees-focused on cybersecurity in fields such as AI, aerospace, quantum technologies, and more. In return, recipients commit to working in a cybersecurity role within the U.S. government for a period equal to the length of their scholarship.
The CyberCorps Enhancement Act of 2024 proposes two key improvements to the existing CyberCorps SFS Program: