# National Community College Cybersecurity Challenge Act

This bill creates a federal funding program to help community colleges expand their cybersecurity education programs and train more students for cybersecurity jobs. The government would provide grants to states to strengthen cybersecurity training at community colleges, with the goal of preparing more workers for cybersecurity positions in government, infrastructure, nonprofits, and private companies.

The bill establishes two main funding streams. First, states can compete for grants of up to $250 million per year (from 2023-2027) to improve cybersecurity programs at their community colleges. States would need to match at least half of the federal funding with their own money. To get these grants, states must submit plans showing how they'll recruit experienced cybersecurity professionals to teach at community colleges, help more students earn cybersecurity degrees and industry certifications, create partnerships with employers to give students real-world work experience, and track their progress with detailed data. Second, the bill provides $150 million for organizations like nonprofits and private companies to develop innovative programs that help community colleges meet these same goals, with priority given to programs serving underrepresented groups like minorities, veterans, people with disabilities, and students in rural areas.

The bill also makes a small change to an existing federal scholarship program for cybersecurity students, allowing up to 10 percent of scholarship recipients to become cybersecurity teachers instead of working directly in government cybersecurity jobs. To pay for these programs, the bill would redirect $400 million in unused coronavirus relief funds in 2023 and $250 million annually through 2027.

National Community College Cybersecurity Challenge Act

McClain, Lisa C.

National Community College Cybersecurity Challenge Act This bill provides funding for and establishes two grants to expand cybersecurity programs at community colleges. It also rescinds certain funds provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021.