Polis Amendment Strengthens Cybersecurity Scholarship Program
A leading proponent of innovation in education and the internet, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) successfully included an amendment that will expand a federal cybersecurity scholarship program in H.R. 4061--the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2010--which passed the House today by a vote of 422 to 5.
"Cybersecurity is fast becoming one of the great security challenges of the 21st century," said Polis. "With the threat of organized network infiltration and rogue hackers, it is our job, as innovators and stewards of the internet, to responsibly ensure unhindered access to information and technology that enriches our lives. By boosting our training capabilities and cybersecurity workforce, we can protect a safe and free internet experience."
The Cybersecurity Enhancement Act authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarship for Service program, designed to ensure a highly-qualified cybersecurity workforce in the federal government. The program provides grants to institutions of higher education for the award of scholarships to students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in cybersecurity fields and requires subsequent service as a cybersecurity professional in the federal government as a condition of the scholarship.
Polis' amendment expands the proposed internship opportunities available to participants in the NSF Scholarship for Service Program to include placements in the private sector, allowing students to create ties in the public and private sectors and train under a variety of cutting-edge scenarios.
"Tomorrow's cyber security professionals and our national security interests will greatly benefit from a diversity of experience," said Polis. "As we see in Colorado's many collaborations with budding cyber security professionals, public and private companies thrive with the help of these bright young minds, who, in turn, receive the practical, hands-on knowledge that will build each students' experience to help us keep the internet free and secure."
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