Senate Considers Paying for Cybersecurity Scholarships

The U.S. Senate has received a bill that would create scholarships and fellowships for students who agree to conduct research on cybersecurity.

The House of Representatives passed HR 4061, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2009, in a 422-5 vote on February 4. The bill, which has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, would require the National Science Foundation to develop a postdoctoral fellowship program in cybersecurity and information assurance, as well as reauthorize existing funds for students and research centers in the field.

The measure would also create a university-industry task force on cybersecurity research and development.

Other provisions of the bill, sponsored in the House by Daniel Lipinski (D-Illinois) would:

– Authorize the NSF’s cybersecurity scholarship-for-service program, which would offer scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing cybersecurity degrees. The program would also provide funds for the development of cybersecurity-related curricula and faculty professional development.

– Require the Obama administration to conduct an assessment of cybersecurity work-force needs in the federal government.

– Require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish standards for managing personal information on computers and create a program for cybersecurity awareness.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill passed by the House would cost $639-million between 2010 and 2014 and $320-million after 2014.