,i #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #afb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #i1 #bjbc,mr4 ,tony ,gonzales of ,texas 7for himself and ,ms4 ,kelly of ,illinois7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,oversight and ,accountability ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 to establish a ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps to help address the digital and cybersecurity needs of ,executive agencies1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps ,act4 #b4 ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps 7a7 ,in general ,subpart ,i of part ,,iii of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter3 #ajd ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps ,sec4 #ajdja4 ,definitions4 ,sec4 #ajdjb4 ,establishment4 ,sec4 #ajdjc4 ,organization4 ,sec4 #ajdjd4 ,assignments4 ,sec4 #ajdje4 ,reservist continuing education4 ,sec4 #ajdjf4 ,congressional reports4 #ajdja4 ,definitions ,in this chapter3 7#a7 ,active reservist ,the term active reservist means a reservist holding a position to which such reservist has been appointed under section #ajdjc7;c77#b74 7#b7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,general ,services ,administration4 7#c7 ,program ,the term ,program means the program established under section #ajdjb7;a74 7#d7 ,reservist ,the term reservist means an individual who is a member of the ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps4 #ajdjb4 ,establishment 7a7 ,establishment ,there is established in the ,general ,services ,administration a program to establish1 manage1 and assign a reserve of individuals with relevant skills and credentials1 to be know as the ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps1 to help address the digital and cybersecurity needs of ,executive agencies4 7b7 ,implementation 7#a7 ,guidance ,not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,administrator shall issue guidance for the ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps1 which shall include procedures for coordinating with ,executive agencies to-- 7,a7 identify digital and cybersecurity needs which may be addressed by the ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps2 and 7,b7 assign active reservists to address such needs4 7#b7 ,recruitment and initial assignments ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,administrator shall begin recruiting reservists and assigning active reservists under the ,program4 #ajdjc4 ,organization 7a7 ,administration 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps shall be administered by the ,administrator4 7#b7 ,responsibilities ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 establish standards for serving as a reservist1 including educational attainment1 professional qualifications1 and background checks2 7,b7 ensure the standards established under subparagraph 7,a7 are met2 7,c7 recruit individuals to the ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps2 7,d7 activate and deactivate reservists as necessary2 7,e7 coordinate with ,executive agencies to-- 7i7 determine the digital and cybersecurity needs which reservists shall be assigned to address2 7ii7 ensure reservists have access1 resources1 and equipment required to address digital and cybersecurity needs which such reservists are assigned to address2 and 7iii7 analyze potential assignments for reservists to determine outcomes1 develop anticipated assignment timelines1 and identify ,executive agency partners2 7,f7 ensure reservists acquire and maintain appropriate security clearances2 and 7,g7 determine what additional resources1 if any1 are required to successfully implement the ,program4 7b7 ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps participation 7#a7 ,service obligation agreement 7,a7 ,in general ,an individual may become a reservist only if such individual enters into a written agreement with the ,administrator to become a reservist4 7,b7 ,contents ,the agreement under subparagraph 7,a7 shall-- 7i7 require the individual seeking to become a reservist to serve as a reservist for a three-year period1 during which such individual shall serve not less then #cj days per year as an active reservist2 and 7ii7 set forth all other the rights and obligations of the individual and the ,general ,services ,administration4 7#b7 ,compensation ,the ,administrator shall determine the appropriate compensation for service as a reservists1 except that the annual pay for such service shall not exceed #aj1jjj4 7#c7 ,employment protections ,the ,secretary of ,labor shall prescribe such regulations as necessary to ensure the reemployment1 continuation of benefits1 and non-discrimination in reemployment of active reservists1 provided that such regulations shall include1 at a minimum1 those rights and obligations set forth under chapter #dc of title #ch4 7#d7 ,penalties 7,a7 ,in general ,a reservist that fails to accept an appointment under subsection 7c77#b7 or fails to carry out the duties assigned to reservist under such an appointment shall1 after notice and an opportunity to be heard-- 7i7 cease to be a reservist2 and 7ii7 be fined an amount equal to the sum of-- 7,i7 an amount equal to the amounts1 if any1 paid under section #ajdje with respect to such reservist1 and 7,,ii7 the difference between the amount of compensation such reservist would have received if the reservist completed the entire term of service as a reservist agreed to in the agreement described in paragraph 7#a7 and the amount of compensation such reservist has received under such agreement4 7,b7 ,exception ,subparagraph 7,a7 shall not apply with respect to a failure of a reservist to accept an appointment under subsection 7c77#b7 or to carry out the duties assigned to the reservist under such an appointment if-- 7i7 the failure was due to the death or disability of such reservist2 or 7ii7 the ,administrator determines that subparagraph 7,a7 should not apply with respect to the failure4 7c7 ,hiring authority 7#a7 ,corps leadership ,the ,administrator may appoint1 without regard to the provisions of subchapter ,i of chapter #cc 7other than sections #ccjc and #ccbh7 of this title1 qualified candidates to positions in the competitive service in the ,general ,service ,administration for which the primary duties are related to the management or administration of the ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps1 as determined by the ,administrator4 7#b7 ,corps reservists 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator may appoint1 without regard to the provisions of subchapter ,i of chapter #cc 7other than sections #ccjc and #ccbh71 qualified reservists to temporary positions in the competitive service for the purpose of assigning such reservists under section #ajdjd and to otherwise carry out the ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps4 7,b7 ,appointment limits 7i7 ,in general ,the ,administrator may not appoint an individual under this paragraph if1 during the #cfe-;day period ending on the date of such appointment1 such individual has been an officer or employee of the executive or legislative branch of the ,united ,states ,government1 of any independent agency of the ,united ,states1 or of the ,district of ,columbia for not less than #acj days4 7ii7 ,automatic appointment termination ,the appointment of an individual under this paragraph shall terminate upon such individual being employed as an officer or employee of the executive or legislative branch of the ,united ,states ,government1 of any independent agency of the ,united ,states1 or of the ,district of ,columbia for #acj days during the previous #cfe days4 7,c7 ,employee status ,an individual appointed under this paragraph shall be considered a special ,government employee 7as such term is defined in section #bjb7;a7 of title #ah74 7,d7 ,additional employees ,individuals appointed under this paragraph shall be in addition to any employees of the ,general ,services ,administration whose duties relate to the digital or cybersecurity needs of the ,general ,services ,administration4 #ajdjd4 ,assignments 7a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator may assign active reservists to address the digital and cybersecurity needs of ,executive agencies1 including cybersecurity services1 digital education and training1 data triage1 acquisition assistance1 guidance on digital projects1 development of technical solutions1 and bridging public needs and private sector capabilities4 7b7 ,assignment-,specific access1 resources1 supplies1 or equipment ,the head of an ,executive agency shall1 to the extent practicable1 provide each active reservist assigned to address a digital or cybersecurity need of such ,executive agency under subsection 7a7 with any specialized access1 resources1 supplies1 or equipment required to address such digital or cybersecurity need4 7c7 ,duration ,an assignment of an individual under subsection 7a7 shall terminate on the earlier of-- 7#a7 the date determined by the ,administrator2 7#b7 the date on which the ,administrator receives notification of the decision of the head of the ,executive agency1 the digital or cybersecurity needs of which such individual is assigned to address under subsection 7a71 that such assignment should terminate2 or 7#c7 the date on which the assigned individual ceases to be an active reservist4 #ajdje4 ,reservist continuing education 7a7 ,in general ,subject to the availability of appropriations1 the ,administrator may pay for reservists to acquire training and receive continuing education1 including attending conferences and seminars and obtaining certifications1 that will enable reservists to more effectively meet the digital and cybersecurity needs of ,executive agencies4 7b7 ,application ,the ,administrator shall establish a process for reservists to apply for the payment of reasonable expenses related to the training or continuing education described in subsection 7a74 7c7 ,report ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section1 and annually thereafter1 the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress a report on the expenditures under this subsection4 #ajdjf4 ,congressional reports ,not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section1 and annually thereafter1 the ,administrator shall submit to ,congress a report on the ,program1 including-- 7#a7 the number of reservists2 7#b7 a list of ,executive agencies that have submitted requests for support from the ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps2 7#c7 the nature and status of such requests2 and 7#d7 with respect to each such request to which active reservists have been assigned and for which work by the ,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps has concluded1 an evaluation of such work and the results of such work by-- 7,a7 the ,executive agency that submitted the request2 and 7,b7 the reservists assigned to such request4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of chapters for part ,,iii of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after the item related to chapter #ajc the following new item3 #ajd4,national ,digital ,reserve ,corps#ajdja 4 7c7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #cj1jjj1jjj1 to remain available until fiscal year #bjbe1 to carry out the program established under section #ajdjb7;a7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by this ,act4