McCollum Remarks at Metro State University Cybersecurity Roundtable

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today joined Metro State University’s Cybersecurity Roundtable as a panelist to give context for the challenges and threats posed by cyber actors and the importance of strategic investments in cybersecurity as a national security priority.

In Fiscal Year 2023, Congresswoman McCollum secured $1.6 million in Community Project Funding for Metro State University and the Neighborhood Development Center to develop the Cybersecurity Information Center that is now supporting workforce development in the Fourth District. Congresswoman McCollum worked to include $1.45 million in Defense funding for the University’s Cybersecurity Clinic sponsored by the National Security Administration (NSA), which helps the K12 School System, underserved counties and cities, small businesses, and nonprofits address cybersecurity concerns. The free cybersecurity clinic staffed by Metro students will address the growing need for cybersecurity awareness and protection in our community. McCollum is also working to deliver $10.5 million to support academic cybersecurity institutes and cyber workforce development for which Metro State University will be eligible to compete.

[Remarks as prepared for delivery]

Thank you, it is great to be with you all this morning. I want to begin by thanking Metro State University and President Arthur for hosting this event.

And I truly commend her for leading from the front when it comes to making cybersecurity education a priority for this university.

The State of Minnesota is going to benefit from the training and education being done here – but so will our country and our national defense.

In Congress, I have the honor of serving as the Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. I am charged with the responsibility of allocating over $800 billion in federal spending each year for the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community.

Last Congress, I was the Chair of the Subcommittee. So I know very well the threats we face from cyber actors.

Foreign states, terrorist groups, criminal enterprises, and rogue individuals – they all represent significant cyber threats to our nation. In the last decade we have seen escalating cyber-attacks on our economy, health care system, energy infrastructure, national security assets – and even our democracy itself.

Right here in Minnesota – Russian hackers have targeted our election systems. They have tried to access voter registration data, and ultimately impact the outcome of our elections. We know that they will continue to do this – and defending ourselves and our way of life is not an option. That is because we live in a digital society, where data powers everything.

It underpins our economy, our health care system, our critical infrastructure, and our national security. That is why we must invest not only in the cyber tools we need to protect our data, but the workforce needed to utilize those tools and keep us safe from these threats.

The private sector, academia, non-profits, and every level of government are constantly under threat from ransomware, digital attacks, and data breaches.

And defending our society requires that we have a cyber workforce capable of handling these threats, as well as robust workforce development pipelines to train the next generation of Americans to meet this challenge.

That is why in Congress, I have been committed to not only providing necessary resources to the Department of Defense but have worked to push them to take seriously their role in building out national security workforce development pipelines.

DoD and the Intelligence Services have a mandate to keep us safe and empower a national security cyber force – both military and civilian – that can meet this challenge.

That is why I am so excited to see the work that Metro State has been doing in this field. They offer expertise in cybersecurity education to a unique and diverse student population. And their connections across Minnesota provide opportunities for a cyber workforce initiative that will help produce the cyber professionals of the future.

That is what we need to ensure our national security, but also to insulate our businesses, hospitals, universities, financial institutions, and every individual connected to the internet.

In the Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations bill, I have included funds for the Air Force Digital Transformation Office to invest in a cyber workforce initiative.

It is my hope that they will look to Metro State as a partner who can provide the necessary capacity building and deliver a new generation of cybersecurity professionals to meet the needs of Minnesota and our nation’s cyber security.

We don’t have the luxury of waiting.

Everyone in this room knows that this kind of workforce investment is essential. So again, I want to thank Metro State and President Arthur for stepping up to the challenge and driving this initiative.

I hope that Minnesota policymakers, along with the Minnesota National Guard, will embrace their work and invest in this critical workforce effort.

And in Congress, I’ll continue to my part to make sure we have the resources necessary to support our existing cyber workforce, and train the talent we need for the future.

Thank you again.

###