[Pages S5787-S5788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2724. Ms. MIKULSKI submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
by her to the bill S. 3414, to enhance the security and resiliency of 
the cyber and communications infrastructure of the United States; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike section 404 and insert the following:

     SEC. 404. FEDERAL CYBER SCHOLARSHIP-FOR-SERVICE PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science 
     Foundation, in coordination with the Secretary and the 
     Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall carry 
     out a Federal Cyber Scholarship-for-Service program--
       (1) to increase the capacity of institutions of higher 
     education to produce cybersecurity professionals; and

[[Page S5788]]

       (2) to recruit and train the next generation of information 
     technology professionals, industry control security 
     professionals, and security managers to meet the needs of the 
     cybersecurity mission for the Federal Government and State, 
     local, and tribal governments.
       (b) Program Description and Components.--The program 
     carried out under subsection (a) shall--
       (1) incorporate findings from the assessment and 
     development of the strategy under section 405;
       (2) provide institutions of higher education, including 
     community colleges, with sufficient funding to carry out a 
     scholarship program, as described in subsection (c); and
       (3) provide assistance to institutions of higher education 
     in establishing or expanding educational opportunities and 
     resources in cybersecurity, as authorized under section 5 of 
     the Cyber Security Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 
     7404).
       (c) Scholarship Program.--
       (1) Institutions of higher education.--An institution of 
     higher education that carries out a scholarship program under 
     subsection (b)(2) shall--
       (A) provide 2- or 3-year scholarships to students who are 
     enrolled in a program of study at the institution of higher 
     education leading to a degree, credential, or specialized 
     program certification in the cybersecurity field, in an 
     amount that covers each student's tuition and fees at the 
     institution and provides the student with an additional 
     stipend;
       (B) require each scholarship recipient, as a condition of 
     receiving a scholarship under the program--
       (i) to enter into an agreement under which the recipient 
     agrees to work in the cybersecurity mission of a Federal, 
     State, local, or tribal agency for a period equal to the 
     length of the scholarship following receipt of the student's 
     degree, credential, or specialized program certification; and
       (ii) to refund any scholarship payments received by the 
     recipient, in accordance with rules established by the 
     Director of the National Science Foundation, in coordination 
     with the Secretary, if a recipient does not meet the terms of 
     the scholarship program; and
       (C) provide clearly documented evidence of a strong 
     existing program in cybersecurity, which may include 
     designation as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information 
     Assurance Education by the National Security Agency and the 
     Department of Homeland Security.
       (2) Scholarship eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a 
     scholarship under a scholarship program carried out by an 
     institution of higher education under subsection (b)(2), an 
     individual shall--
       (A) be a full-time student of the institution of higher 
     education who is likely to receive a baccalaureate degree, a 
     masters degree, or a research-based doctoral degree during 
     the 3-year period beginning on the date on which the 
     individual receives the scholarship;
       (B) be a citizen of lawful permanent resident of the United 
     States;
       (C) demonstrate a commitment to a career in improving the 
     security of information infrastructure; and
       (D) have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in fields 
     relevant to the cybersecurity profession, which may include 
     mathematics, engineering, business, public policy, social 
     sciences, law, or computer sciences.
       (3) Other program requirements.--The Director of the 
     National Science Foundation, in coordination with the 
     Secretary and the Director of the Office of Personnel 
     Management, shall ensure that each scholarship program 
     carried out under subsection (b)(2)--
       (A) provides a procedure by which the National Science 
     Foundation or a Federal agency may, consistent with 
     regulations of the Office of Personnel Management, request 
     and fund security clearances for scholarships recipients, 
     including providing for clearances during summer internships 
     and after the recipient receives the degree, credential, or 
     specialized program certification; and
       (B) provides opportunities for students to receive 
     temporary appointments for meaningful employment in the 
     cybersecurity mission of a Federal agency during vacation 
     periods and for internships.
       (4) Hiring authority.--
       (A) In general.--For purposes of any law or regulation 
     governing the appointment of individuals in the Federal civil 
     service, upon receiving a degree for which an individual 
     received a scholarship under a scholarship program carried 
     out by an institution of higher education under subsection 
     (b)(2), the individual shall be--
       (i) hired under the authority provided for in section 
     213.3102(r) or title 5, Code of Federal Regulations; and
       (ii) exempt from competitive service.
       (B) Competitive service position.--Upon satisfactory 
     fulfillment of the service term of an individual hired under 
     subparagraph (A), the individual may be converted to a 
     competitive service position with competition if the 
     individual meets the requirements for that position.
       (5) Evaluation and report.--The Director of the National 
     Science Foundation shall evaluate and report periodically to 
     Congress on--
       (A) the success of any scholarship programs carried out 
     under subsection (b)(2) in recruiting individuals for 
     scholarships; and
       (B) hiring and retaining individuals who receive 
     scholarships under a scholarship program carried out under 
     subsection (b)(2) in the public sector workforce.
       (d) Benchmarks.--
       (1) Proposals.--A proposal submitted to the Director of the 
     National Science Foundation for assistance under subsection 
     (b)(3) shall include--
       (A) clearly stated goals translated into a set of expected 
     measurable outcomes that can be monitored; and
       (B) an evaluation plan that explains how the outcomes 
     described in subparagraph (A) will be measured.
       (2) Use of goals.--The Director of the National Science 
     Foundation shall use the goals included in a proposal 
     submitted under paragraph (1)--
       (A) to track the progress of a recipient of assistance 
     under subsection (b)(3);
       (B) to guide a project carried out using assistance under 
     subsection (b)(3); and
       (C) to evaluate the impact of a project carried out using 
     assistance under subsection (b)(3).
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