Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act of 2017

Floor Speech

Let me take this opportunity to thank the chairman, Mr. Chabot; his staff; and all the members of the Small Business Committee for working in a bipartisan manner.

Mr. Speaker, we continue to hear about cyber breaches and unauthorized data collection. Cybersecurity must be our Nation's top priority, especially as it pertains to the health of our small business community.

The Small Business Committee has taken steps to leverage the Small Business Administration's network of resource partners to assist in education and development of cyber infrastructure. Clearly, we must do more to combat rogue nation-states and cybercriminals.

The key lies in a properly trained workforce at our small business development centers who are tasked in educating, developing, and implementing cybersecurity measures for small companies of all kinds.

H.R. 3170, the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act does this by creating a certification program at SBDCs to develop staff who are prepared to combat cyber attacks. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill.
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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, does the chairman have any further speakers?

Mr. Speaker, expanding access to a skilled cyber workforce focused on small businesses has been a top priority for both sides of the aisle. We cannot let our Nation's job creators go without the assistance they need to develop, implement, and monitor their online presence.

H.R. 3170 will help boost SBDC's ability to engage and protect their small-business clients, and, therefore, also protect the interests of American workers and consumers.

This legislation ensures that our national efforts combating cyber attacks can be utilized by our Nation's most vulnerable businesses. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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