Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act of 2021
Floor Speech
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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4515) to amend the Small Business Act to require cyber certification for small business development center counselors, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 4515
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act of 2021''. SEC. 2. DUTIES OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER COUNSELORS.
Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(o) Cyber Strategy Training for Small Business Development Centers.--
``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
``(A) the term `cyber strategy' means resources and tactics to assist in planning for cybersecurity and defending against cyber risks and cyber attacks; and
``(B) the term `lead small business development center' means a small business development center that has received a grant from the Administration.
``(2) Certification program.--The Administrator shall establish a cyber counseling certification program, or approve a similar existing program, to certify the employees of lead small business development centers to provide cyber planning assistance to small business concerns.
``(3) Number of certified employees.--The Administrator shall ensure that the number of employees of each lead small business development center who are certified in providing cyber planning assistance under this subsection is not fewer than the lesser of--
``(A) 5; or
``(B) 10 percent of the total number of employees of the lead small business development center.
``(4) Consideration of small business development center cyber strategy.--In carrying out this subsection, the Administrator, to the extent practicable, shall consider any cyber strategy methods included in the Small Business Development Center Cyber Strategy developed under section 1841(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114-328; 130 Stat. 2662).
``(5) Reimbursement for certification.--
``(A) In general.--Subject to the availability of appropriations and subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall reimburse a lead small business development center for costs relating to the certification of an employee of the lead small business development center under the program established under paragraph (2).
``(B) Limitation.--The total amount reimbursed by the Administrator under subparagraph (A) may not exceed $350,000 in any fiscal year.''.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4515, the Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act. This legislation will enable Small Business Development Centers, SBDCs, to better assist small businesses with their cybersecurity needs.
Small businesses often lack the resources, training, or technical knowledge to prevent a cyberattack before it happens. In the past year alone, 47 percent of small businesses experienced a cyberattack, and out of those, 44 percent experienced more than one.
A cyberattack can cripple a small business, and the repercussions can be felt across the supply chain. In fact, the cost of a single breach can cost upwards of $200,000 or more. During hearings over the years, my committee has heard heartbreaking stories of how just one cyberattack forced companies to close their doors permanently.
Today's legislation takes action to provide much-needed resources to any small company, whether it is our local pizza shop or an independent Uber driver, to educate and protect themselves from growing cybercrime.
Because SBDCs have a proven record of understanding the needs of small businesses, H.R. 4515 would establish a cyber counseling certification program in SBDCs to provide specific, free-of-charge cyber training for small entities.
The cyber training provided by the nationwide network of SBDCs will offer crucial resources for small employers to plan and implement cybersecurity protections and combat cyberattacks.
I thank my colleagues, Mr. Andrew Garbarino from New York, Mr. Steve Chabot from Ohio, and Mr. Dwight Evans and Ms. Chrissy Houlahan from Pennsylvania, for their work on this bill. I am confident that the bipartisan work of the Small Business Committee will better fortify our Nation's cyber infrastructure.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Houlahan).
Mr. Speaker, our national cybersecurity infrastructure is only as strong as our weakest links. America's small companies need the same cybersecurity protections as Fortune 500 businesses and the Federal Government but often lack the resources.
This bill would go a long way in assisting small businesses with their cybersecurity needs. The training and resources provided by SBDCs will offer crucial resources for small businesses to plan and implement cybersecurity protections and minimize the damage of cyber incidents.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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