DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act
S. 5321118th Congress

DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act

Reported by CommitteeSen. Gary Peters (D-MI)54 sections · 4 min read
Version: Reported to Senate · Dec 19, 2024

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act.

(a) Program

Subtitle D of title XIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296; 116 Stat. 2298 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Historically black college or university

The term historically Black college or university has the meaning given the term part B institution in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).

(2) Institution of higher education

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(3) Junior or community college

The term junior or community college has the meaning given that term in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058).

(4) Minority-serving institution

The term minority-serving institution means an eligible institution of higher education described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).

(5) Secondary school

The term secondary school means a school or program that provides secondary education, as determined under State law, except that the term does not include any education beyond grade 12.

(6) Technical, trade, or vocational school

The term technical, trade, or vocational school has the meaning given that term in section 411.167 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) Program

The Secretary shall carry out a cybersecurity internship program (in this section referred to as the Program) under which an eligible individual participates in a paid cybersecurity internship at the Department with duties aligned to such participant’s respective education, skills, and experience.

(c) Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the Program, an individual shall—

(1) be a citizen of the United States;

(2) be at least 16 years old; and

(3) be enrolled in a secondary school, technical, trade, or vocational school, or institution of higher education, in accordance with subsection (d).

(d) Composition

The Secretary shall, as practicable, ensure that participants selected for the Program for each intern class include students enrolled in each of the following:

(1) Secondary schools.

(2) Junior or community colleges.

(3) Undergraduate degree programs.

(4) Postgraduate degree programs.

(5) Technical, trade, or vocational schools.

(1) Reports

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report on the Program.

(2) Matters

Each report under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the most recent Program year, the following:

(A) A description of outreach efforts by the Secretary to raise awareness of the Program among secondary schools and institutions of higher education, including among junior or community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, and other minority-serving institutions.

(B) Information on specific recruiting efforts by the Secretary to increase participation in the Program.

(C) The number of individuals participating in the Program, listed by the type of school or program in which the individual is enrolled at the time of participation, and information on the nature of each such participation, including Department components supported, and the duties of each such individual.

(3) Consolidation

Reports submitted under this subsection may be consolidated with the reports required under section 1333(e).

(b) Clerical amendment

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296; 116 Stat. 2135) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1333 the following new item:

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act.

(a) Program

Subtitle D of title XIII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296; 116 Stat. 2298 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Historically black college or university

The term historically Black college or university has the meaning given the term part B institution in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).

(2) Institution of higher education

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(3) Junior or community college

The term junior or community college has the meaning given that term in section 312 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058).

(4) Minority-serving institution

The term minority-serving institution means an eligible institution of higher education described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).

(5) Secondary school

The term secondary school means a school or program that provides secondary education, as determined under State law, except that the term does not include any education beyond grade 12.

(6) Technical, trade, or vocational school

The term technical, trade, or vocational school has the meaning given the term technical, trade or vocational school in section 411.167 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations.

(b) Program

The Secretary shall carry out a cybersecurity internship program (in this section referred to as the Program) under which an eligible individual may participate in a paid cybersecurity internship at the Department with duties aligned to such participant’s respective education, skills, and experience.

(c) Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the Program, an individual shall—

(1) be a citizen of the United States;

(2) be at least 16 years old; and

(3) be enrolled in a secondary school, technical, trade, or vocational school, or institution of higher education, in accordance with subsection (d).

(d) Composition

The Secretary shall, as practicable, ensure that participants selected for the Program for each intern class include students enrolled in each of the following:

(1) Secondary schools.

(2) Junior or community colleges.

(3) Undergraduate degree programs.

(4) Postgraduate degree programs.

(5) Technical, trade, or vocational schools.

(1) Reports

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the DHS Cybersecurity Internship Program Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report on the Program.

(2) Matters

Each report under paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the most recent Program year, the following:

(A) A description of outreach efforts by the Secretary to raise awareness of the Program among secondary schools and institutions of higher education, including among junior or community colleges, historically Black colleges and universities, and other minority-serving institutions.

(B) Information on specific recruiting efforts by the Secretary to increase participation in the Program.

(C) The number of individuals participating in the Program, listed by the type of school or program in which the individual is enrolled at the time of participation, and information on the nature of each such participation, including Department components supported, and the duties of each such individual.

(3) Consolidation

Reports submitted under this subsection may be consolidated with the reports required under section 1333(e).

(b) Clerical amendment

The table of contents in section 1(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107–296; 116 Stat. 2135) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1333 the following new item:

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