Sec. 222. Measuring and incentivizing programming proficiency
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/bill/116/hr/6395/pcs/section-222A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out the following activities: Leverage existing civilian software development and software architecture certification programs to implement coding language proficiency and artificial intelligence competency tests within the Department of Defense that— measure an individual’s competency in using machine learning tools, in a manner similar to the way the Defense Language Proficiency Test measures competency in foreign language skills; enable the identification of members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense who have varying levels of quantified coding comprehension and skills and a propensity to learn new programming paradigms, algorithms, and data analytics; and include hands-on coding demonstrations and challenges.
Update existing record keeping systems to track artificial intelligence and programming certification testing results in a manner that is comparable to the system used for tracking and documenting foreign language competency, and use that record keeping system to ensure that workforce coding and artificial intelligence comprehension and skills are taken into consideration when making assignments. Implement a system of rewards, including appropriate incentive pay and retention incentives, for members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of Defense who perform successfully on specific language coding proficiency and artificial intelligence competency tests and make their skills available to the Department.
The Secretary of Defense shall share information on the activities carried out under subsection
(a)with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Director of National Intelligence, and the heads of such other organizations of the intelligence community as the Secretary determines appropriate, for purposes of— making information about the coding language proficiency and artificial intelligence competency tests developed under such subsection available to other Federal national security agencies; and encouraging the heads of such agencies to implement tracking and reward systems that are comparable to those implemented by the Department of Defense pursuant to such subsection.