§2.Workforce frameworks for critical and emerging technologies
This section amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272) to define the terms "competencies" (knowledge and skills), "workforce categories" (high-level grouping of tasks across an organization as defined by work roles), and "workforce framework" (common taxonomy and lexicon for a domain including tasks, knowledge, or skills structured into work roles or competency areas).
The section expands the functions of the NIST Director by adding a new paragraph (14) to section 2(b) requiring NIST to (1) develop, maintain, and provide industry, government, research, nonprofit, labor organizations, and educational institutions with workforce frameworks for critical and emerging technologies and other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics domains to bolster scientific and technical education, training, and workforce development; (2) review and, if appropriate, update such frameworks at least every three years; (3) consider including professional/employability skills, support/operations roles (e.g., administration, ethics, supply chain security), career discovery information for diverse backgrounds, and credentialing pathways; (4) consult with relevant stakeholders; (5) produce multilingual resources; and (6) report to Congress after each review on determinations and update plans. (As background, NIST serves as the federal standards and measurement laboratory supporting U.S. technological competitiveness; thus, these frameworks provide standardized taxonomies to align education, training, and hiring in high-priority tech sectors.)
The section further directs the NIST Director to submit to Congress (1) not later than 180 days after enactment, and subsequently per the new reporting requirement, a report describing the ongoing review and update process for the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NIST Special Publication 800-181 or successor), including proposed changes, consultations, timeline, and incorporation of additional domains; and (2) at three, six, and nine years after enactment, in consultation with stakeholders, a report identifying NICE framework applications/uses, adoption guidance, employer/educator usage data, effectiveness for nontraditional backgrounds, and additional actions to increase uptake.