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Congressman Gonzalez’s FY19 NDAA Cybersecurity Amendment Passes the House

July 26, 2018

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez's (TX-15) amendment encouraging high schools with U.S. Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) to add cybersecurity coursework was included in the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 5519, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019. The House adopted the Conference Report by a vote of 359-54 on Thursday, July 26, 2018. The Report now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Specifically, the amendment would require the Secretaries of the Army, Air Force, and Navy to encourage high schools with JROTC programs to incorporate cybersecurity educational programs and awareness into their curricula. This includes lessons on cyber defense, the risks associated with cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the military, and career and educational opportunities in cybersecurity and related fields.

"Increasing numbers of cyber-attacks and cyber terrorism put our country, democracy, our businesses, and even our own social media accounts, at risk," Congressman Gonzalez said. "Our ability to sensibly detect and combat these threats starts in the classroom. Future generations JROTC students will now be equipped with skillsets as innovative as the technology they use. Now is the time to better prepare and protect ourselves from cyber-attacks and develop sound strategies to address them."

High schools that have a JROTC program within the 15th District of Texas are:

· Byron P. Steele High School;

· Edcouch Elsa High School;

· Edinburg North High School;

· Hidalgo High School;

· James Nikki Rowe High School;

· Johnny Economedes High School;

· McAllen Memorial High School;

· McAllen Senior High School;

· Mercedes High School;

· Pharr San Juan High School;

· PSJA Southwest Early College High School;

· Robert Vela High School;

· Seguin High School;

· Valley View High School;

· Weslaco High School.

Issues:Education