The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has unanimously passed the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act.
“We need to ensure the United States has the talent and research capabilities required to lead the global tech competition and outcompete China,” said Senator Young. “Quantum technologies promise to dramatically transform every industry and sector of our economy and revolutionize our technological capabilities. The National Quantum Initiative strengthens the research and development investments and builds a strong workforce which plays a critical role in safeguarding America’s economic and national security. This legislation, which reauthorizes the NQI, is critical to ensuring American leadership in quantum technology.”
“From scientific breakthroughs in healthcare to clean energy solutions, quantum technology is a game-changer and federal investment is vital to accelerating the transition from basic science to quantum innovation and practical applications,” said Senator Cantwell. “The State of Washington, with its vibrant tech industry, national lab partnerships and a growing pipeline of quantum engineers and technicians, is poised to become ‘Quantum Valley.’ By investing in workforce development, promoting international cooperation with trusted allies and supporting resilient domestic supply chains, the National Quantum Initiative will position the United States to drive innovation, benefit from economic growth and create high-skilled jobs.”
Since its enactment in 2018, the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) has helped to catalyze a rapidly growing U.S. quantum ecosystem, supporting the emergence of dozens of venture-backed quantum startups and a broader national industry spanning quantum computing, networking, and sensing. Through NQI-aligned programs, researchers have produced thousands of peer-reviewed publications and patents, and a new generation of quantum engineers has been trained. Federal coordination under the Initiative has driven billions of dollars in public and private investment, accelerating breakthroughs, and strengthening U.S. leadership in quantum standards and measurement science.
These outcomes demonstrate that the Initiative has moved quantum from a fragmented research effort into a nationally coordinated engine for innovation, commercialization, and competitiveness.
The bipartisan legislation would advance the National Quantum Initiative across the full research-to-application spectrum, strengthening basic research while accelerating practical applications and expanding the Initiative to include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) research initiatives, including quantum satellite communications and quantum sensing. The bill would establish up to three new National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) quantum centers. It would create three new National Science Foundation (NSF) Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education, a quantum education and workforce hub and new quantum testbeds. These new centers, hubs, and testbeds would provide the shared infrastructure needed to scale quantum research, translate breakthroughs into applications, and train the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers.
The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act:
- Extends the National Quantum Initiative by five years to December 2034. Reauthorizes quantum research, education, and development initiatives across NIST, NSF and NASA.
- Requires the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop an international quantum cooperation strategy to coordinate R&D activities with allies of the United States.
- Creates new prize challenges to accelerate the development of quantum applications and algorithms through public-private collaboration.
- Directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce to assess, map, and model quantum supply chains, identify current and future vulnerabilities in these supply chains, and submit a plan to Congress to strengthen resiliency to protect against future shocks to these supply chains.
- Establishes up to three new NIST quantum centers to advance research in quantum sensing, measurement, and engineering.
- Creates three new NSF Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education, a quantum workforce coordination hub and quantum testbeds.
- For the first time, authorizes NASA quantum R&D activities including quantum satellite communications and quantum sensing research initiatives.
