Dems introduce cyber workforce bill

Three House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a multi-layered bill aimed at boosting the cybersecurity workforce.

The “New Collar Jobs Act,” released by Reps. Ted Lieu (Calif.), Matt Cartwright (Pa.) and Ann McLane Kuster (N.H.), would establish incentivized tax breaks for employers offering cybersecurity training, increase funding for a cyber scholarship program and establish a student debt relief program for cybersecurity job takers.

“Our vision is to improve our economy and national security by re-educating industrial workers with high-demand skills in cyber to fill these ‘New Collar’ jobs – positions that have competitive salaries, career growth potential, and cannot be outsourced,” Lieu said in a press release.

{mosads}In addition to providing the first tax breaks for employee training or education in cybersecurity, it would also boost the evaluation scores used to determine government contracts for employers utilizing the tax break by 5 percent. 

The bill would double the size of the CyberCorps program, which offers scholarships in exchange for government service and add $10 million to the Advanced Technological Education Program in cybersecurity, which funds community college students. 

The bill would also offer student loan repayment to cybersecurity practitioners who take posts in economically distressed counties.