A group of U.S. House members recently introduced the Department of Defense Emergency Response Capabilities Database Enhancement Act, which aims to require the National Guard and Reserve forces to track their members cybersecurity skills.
The bill was authored by Reps. Jam Langevin (D-RI), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Susan Davis (D-CA), and Mike Coffman (R-CO). A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Deb Fischer (R-NE).
The bill would build upon previous work done by the U.S. Department of Defense in requiring the department to add cybersecurity as a category to an existing database that tracks specific capabilities, such as engineering or aviation, of National Guard and Reserve members.
“During a time of crisis, it is imperative that we have the ability to call upon our cyber warriors in the National Guard and the Reserves at a moment’s notice,” Langevin said. “The men and women who serve in the Guard and Reserves often have critical expertise in their civilian careers, especially in cybersecurity and technology, and tracking their skills is essential if we are to tap into and utilize that talent.”