President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. MALINOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6824) to authorize the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security to hold an annual cybersecurity competition relating to offensive and defensive cybersecurity disciplines, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6824

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act''. SEC. 2. PRESIDENT'S CUP CYBERSECURITY COMPETITION.

(a) In General.--The Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (in this section referred to as the ``Director'') of the Department of Homeland Security is authorized to hold an annual cybersecurity competition to be known as the ``Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition'' (in this section referred to as the ``competition'') for the purpose of identifying, challenging, and competitively awarding prizes, including cash prizes, to the United States Government's best cybersecurity practitioners and teams across offensive and defensive cybersecurity disciplines.

(b) Competition Design.--

(1) In general.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Director, in carrying out the competition, may consult with, and consider advice from, any person who has experience or expertise in the development, design, or execution of cybersecurity competitions.

(2) Limitation.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to consultations pursuant to this section.

(3) Prohibition.--A person with whom the Director consults under paragraph (1) may not--

(A) receive pay by reason of being so consulted; or

(B) be considered an employee of the Federal Government by reason of so consulting.

(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to participate in the competition, an individual shall be a Federal civilian employee or member of the uniformed services (as such term is defined in section 2101(3) of title 5, United States Code) and shall comply with any rules promulgated by the Director regarding the competition.

(d) Competition Administration.--The Director may enter into a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other agreement with a private sector for-profit or nonprofit entity or State or local government agency to administer the competition.

(e) Competition Parameters.--Each competition shall incorporate the following elements:

(1) Cybersecurity skills outlined in the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Framework, or any successor framework.

(2) Individual and team events.

(3) Categories demonstrating offensive and defensive cyber operations, such as software reverse engineering and exploitation, network operations, forensics, big data analysis, cyber analysis, cyber defense, cyber exploitation, secure programming, obfuscated coding, or cyber-physical systems.

(4) Any other elements related to paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) as determined necessary by the Director.

(f) Use of Funds.--

(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Director may use amounts made available to the Director for the competition for the following:

(A) Advertising, marketing, and promoting the competition.

(B) Meals for participants and organizers of the competition if attendance at the meal during the competition is necessary to maintain the integrity of the competition.

(C) Promotional items, including merchandise and apparel.

(D) Monetary and nonmonetary awards for competition participants, including members of the uniformed services.

(E) Necessary expenses for the honorary recognition of competition participants, including members of the uniformed services.

(F) Any other appropriate activity necessary to carry out the competition, as determined by the Director.

(2) Application.--This subsection shall apply to amounts appropriated on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(g) Prize Limitation.--The Director may make one or more awards per competition, except that the amount or value of each shall not exceed $10,000. The Secretary of Homeland Security may make one or more awards per competition, except the amount or the value of each shall not to exceed $25,000. A monetary award under this section shall be in addition to the regular pay of the recipient.

(h) Reporting Requirements.--The Director shall annually provide to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report that includes the following:

(1) A description of available funds under subsection (f) for each competition conducted in the preceding year.

(2) A description of expenditures authorized in subsection (g) for each competition.

(3) Information relating to the participation of each competition.

(4) Information relating to lessons learned from each competition and how such lessons may be applied to improve cybersecurity operations and recruitment of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Speaker, before I begin debate on today's legislation, I will take a moment to acknowledge the tragic, bloody events of this weekend in Milwaukee, Buffalo, and Orange County, California. The loss of life and extent of injury to innocent people, as we all know, are staggering.

These incidents are all under investigation but, from a homeland security perspective, I will zero in, in particular, on the events in New York where we have, I think, a fairly good picture of what motivated a man to gun down innocent people, an event that has happened too many times in recent history in our country.

This young man clearly was motivated by an idea, a hateful idea and a racist idea, and one that is sadly familiar to us. It is the same idea that motivated another man to gun down African Americans in Charleston, South Carolina. It is the same idea that motivated yet another man to gun down Hispanic Americans in El Paso, Texas. It is the same idea that motivated another man to gun down Jewish Americans in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

It is an idea that spreads on the internet. But it doesn't just spread organically. Social media companies write algorithms deliberately designed to connect people who are susceptible to this hateful idea to others who may be propagating it. It is an idea that sadly is sometimes amplified and legitimized by political leaders and media personalities in our country.

We have a domestic terrorism problem in America. We all understand that on the Homeland Security Committee. If this problem was coming from outside the United States, it would be easy for us to come together to deal with it.

Imagine if after the September 11 attacks there were cable news hosts who night after night propagated ideas straight from al-Qaida's propaganda materials. We wouldn't tolerate it. Nobody would for one moment think that was acceptable in the United States of America. But because it is a domestic problem rooted in our own society, it is harder. We have to find a way to come together, nonetheless.

I think there are two kinds of leaders in America today, not Democrat, Republican, liberal, or conservative. There are leaders who, when they see a fire burning, they reach for a bucket of water to put it out. And there are leaders who, when they see a fire burning, reach for a can of gasoline to make that fire burn even more. We desperately need leaders in this country, of both political parties, who will try to calm things down and who will tamp down these horrible, hateful ideas, whether they are coming from the left or the right, wherever they are coming from, because these ideas are leading to people being gunned down in our country. It is unacceptable, and it has to stop.

Mr. Speaker, let's turn to the legislation before us today.

Mr. Speaker, as a nation, we are fortunate to have so many dedicated public servants who work for our Federal Government and help keep us safe. Unfortunately, they frequently go without the recognition they deserve for their hard work. The President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act authorizes an innovative prize competition where cyber talent within the ranks of Federal departments and agencies is honored.

Today, it is critical to our homeland and national security that the Federal Government attract, develop, and retain dedicated and talented employees to carry out cybersecurity and cyber defense activities. It is not lost on me that, by choosing to work for the government rather than the private sector, these in-demand professionals often forgo more lucrative career opportunities.

H.R. 6824 would authorize the cyber competition that CISA hosts and ensure that financial awards can be provided to the winning individuals and teams in recognition of their achievement. In the short period of time that the President's Cup has been around, it has become a much- sought-after prize among talented Federal cyber practitioners, many of whom are civilians or active military. By permanently authorizing this competition, Congress can ensure that it remains a vital part of our strategy to identify, retain, and reward the best cybersecurity talent in the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Representative Luria for her leadership in authoring this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition has been an important part of our strategy to support a strong Federal cybersecurity workforce in recent years. Unfortunately, without congressional authorization, it lacks the stability it needs. So thanks to this legislation, authored by my committee colleague, Representative Luria, we have the opportunity to authorize and preserve a key retention tool in the Federal toolbox to ensure that talented Federal cyber professionals get the recognition they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6824, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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