Glenn W. Thompson
03/11/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/11/2026 13:17
Thompson, Bonamici Introduce Bill to Strengthen Cybersecurity Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Glenn "GT" Thompson(R-PA) and Suzanne Bonamici(D-OR), co-chairs of the Congressional Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, introduced the Cybersecurity Skills Integration Act..
This bipartisan legislation seeks to create a pilot program that will award competitive grants to career and technical education programs that integrate cybersecurity into their curriculum. In critical infrastructure sectors like telecommunications, agriculture, energy, or health care, a workforce with basic cybersecurity skills is essential to our public safety. Unfortunately, many training programs in these fields do not place the same emphasis on cybersecurity as they do on physical safety. By working to close the cybersecurity skills gap, this legislation will help better prepare our nation to defend our critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
The bill also requires the Department of Education to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the defense of the nation's 16 critical infrastructure sectors, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which promotes a robust ecosystem of cybersecurity education and training, when awarding grants.
"I am proud to lead this legislation in an effort to ensure our nation's data is protected at all costs," Rep. Thompson said. "It's important that students have access to the necessary education and training to respond to breaches and keep our data systems secure."
"Cybersecurity professionals are an integral part of America's safety and economic prosperity. This bipartisan legislation will help secure a strong future for our country's critical infrastructure by providing students with increased access to cybersecurity education programs," Rep. Bonamici said. "I'm pleased to co-lead this bill with Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson to provide students with the tools to thrive in the modern workforce."
"As cyber threats against school districts grow in scale and sophistication, we must strengthen the pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals," said Keith Krueger, CEO of Consortium for School Networking (CoSN). "The Cybersecurity Skills Integration Actis a timely investment in protecting our schools and preparing the next generation to defend critical infrastructure."
"As cyber technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the need for a workforce prepared to address emerging threats grows increasingly urgent. This legislation would provide essential training opportunities that equip learners with the skills needed to pursue rewarding careers safeguarding critical infrastructure across the country," said LeAnn Curry, Executive Director of ACTE. "ACTE appreciates Representatives Thompson and Bonamici for their leadership in advancing cybersecurity education and the introduction of the Cybersecurity Skills Integration Act."
"As national security evolves and cyber threats grow, integrating cybersecurity skills through Career Technical Education (CTE) prepares learners to protect tomorrow's security through artificial intelligence-enabled approaches, considering cyber threats and infrastructure vulnerabilities," said Kate Kreamer, Executive Director of Advance CTE. "Our organization is proud to endorse the reintroduction of the Cybersecurity Skills Integration Actby Representatives Thompson and Bonamici, reflecting the shared commitment to building educational opportunity for a workforce that is both highly skilled and nationally secure."
Read the full text here.
This bipartisan legislation seeks to create a pilot program that will award competitive grants to career and technical education programs that integrate cybersecurity into their curriculum. In critical infrastructure sectors like telecommunications, agriculture, energy, or health care, a workforce with basic cybersecurity skills is essential to our public safety. Unfortunately, many training programs in these fields do not place the same emphasis on cybersecurity as they do on physical safety. By working to close the cybersecurity skills gap, this legislation will help better prepare our nation to defend our critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
The bill also requires the Department of Education to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the defense of the nation's 16 critical infrastructure sectors, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which promotes a robust ecosystem of cybersecurity education and training, when awarding grants.
"I am proud to lead this legislation in an effort to ensure our nation's data is protected at all costs," Rep. Thompson said. "It's important that students have access to the necessary education and training to respond to breaches and keep our data systems secure."
"Cybersecurity professionals are an integral part of America's safety and economic prosperity. This bipartisan legislation will help secure a strong future for our country's critical infrastructure by providing students with increased access to cybersecurity education programs," Rep. Bonamici said. "I'm pleased to co-lead this bill with Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson to provide students with the tools to thrive in the modern workforce."
"As cyber threats against school districts grow in scale and sophistication, we must strengthen the pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals," said Keith Krueger, CEO of Consortium for School Networking (CoSN). "The Cybersecurity Skills Integration Actis a timely investment in protecting our schools and preparing the next generation to defend critical infrastructure."
"As cyber technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the need for a workforce prepared to address emerging threats grows increasingly urgent. This legislation would provide essential training opportunities that equip learners with the skills needed to pursue rewarding careers safeguarding critical infrastructure across the country," said LeAnn Curry, Executive Director of ACTE. "ACTE appreciates Representatives Thompson and Bonamici for their leadership in advancing cybersecurity education and the introduction of the Cybersecurity Skills Integration Act."
"As national security evolves and cyber threats grow, integrating cybersecurity skills through Career Technical Education (CTE) prepares learners to protect tomorrow's security through artificial intelligence-enabled approaches, considering cyber threats and infrastructure vulnerabilities," said Kate Kreamer, Executive Director of Advance CTE. "Our organization is proud to endorse the reintroduction of the Cybersecurity Skills Integration Actby Representatives Thompson and Bonamici, reflecting the shared commitment to building educational opportunity for a workforce that is both highly skilled and nationally secure."
Read the full text here.
Glenn W. Thompson published this content on March 11, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 11, 2026 at 19:17 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]