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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 20, 2024 08:55 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Joe Webster |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Incentives for Cyber Specialists in the Pennsylvania National Guard |
Cyber-attacks target school districts, townships, cities, and businesses, and these attacks can result in millions of dollars in damages and ransomware. Cyber specialists strengthen our National Guard cyber forces, protect Pennsylvanians, and ensure that the digital realm is safe across the state and beyond. However, despite how important these teams are to the defense of Pennsylvania’s cyberspace, the increasing decline in military enlistment nationwide threatens the safety of our state. The Pennsylvania National Guard has many incredible individuals that go above and beyond to protect every area of our great state, and one critically important area that they defend is the cyberspace. Cyber specialists are soldiers that are trained to perform offensive and defensive operations within the digital realm. The Pennsylvania National Guard has two teams of cyber specialists, both of which are crucial to the defense of cyber operations within our state and across the country. To combat the risks a cyber specialist shortage could pose, I am planning to introduce legislation that would provide stipends to encourage prospective young cyber specialists to join up with the Pennsylvania National Guard, augmenting our ranks with professionals in our commonweaklth. By providing these stipends, we can help our National Guard cyber specialist teams increase their recruitment numbers, and thereby increase the safety of all Pennsylvanians online. Please consider co-sponsoring this legislation so that we can strengthen our cybersecurity and further support our brave National Guardsmen. |