Durbin Joins Introduction Of National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act

12.03.24

Durbin Joins Introduction Of National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act

Federal investment would accelerate quantum R&D at NIST, NSF, NASA-key to U.S. national security and economic competitiveness

WASHINGTON - To maintain and expand the United States' leadership in the global race for quantum technology, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Todd Young (R-IN), and Steve Daines (R-MT) to introduce the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation that would authorize $2.7 billion in federal funding, for the next five years, to accelerate quantum research and development at federal science agencies - including the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

"Quantum technology is our future. And as Illinois continues leading the world in quantum research and innovation, it's critical that our federal research agencies are fully funded," said Durbin. "The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act will help ensure the United States leads the world in computing, security, and connectivity."

Federal investment in quantum technology is essential to address the "valley of death," a phase where promising technologies often stall between research and commercialization. Federal funding supports early research in academia and at the National Labs, training quantum engineers and researchers, and constructing vital infrastructure. Without robust federal support, innovations may fail to materialize, stalling potential breakthroughs critical for national security and economic competitiveness.

The bipartisan bill would refocus the National Quantum Initiative from basic research to practical applications and expand it to include other federal agencies such as NIH, State Department, and Small Business Administration (SBA). The legislation would establish up to three new NIST quantum centers and create five new NSF Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education, a quantum education and workforce hub, and new quantum testbeds. The bill would also bolster NASA's quantum satellite and quantum sensing work for earth science.

The bipartisan bill would directly support the existing NSF quantum research centers, including the two NSF quantum centers led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Chicago. The bill would also authorize NIH to study biomedical applications for quantum technologies, which complements the NSF Quantum Center run by the University of Chicago. The bill also directs coordination with the National Labs, including Illinois' Argonne and Fermilab.

Quantum computing has the potential to solve complex problems exponentially faster than existing computers. The technology could lead to breakthroughs in drug discovery, weather forecasting, financial and economic modeling, artificial intelligence, cryptography, and other innovations. Quantum sensing applications can provide more precise measurements critical for navigation and tracking, seismic monitoring, infrastructure monitoring, and geographical surveying.

Specifically, the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act:

• Authorizes $2.7 billion for FY2025 - FY2029 for NIST, NSF and NASA quantum R&D;

• Extends the program by five years from the original 2029 deadline to December 2034;

• Shifts the focus of the National Quantum Initiative from basic research to developing practical quantum applications;

• Establishes up to three new NIST quantum centers to advance research in quantum sensing, measurement, and engineering;

• Creates five new NSF Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education, a quantum workforce coordination hub, and quantum testbeds at the NSF's Technology, Innovations, and Partnerships Directorate;

• Authorizes NASA quantum R&D activities, including quantum satellite communications and quantum sensing research initiatives;

• Creates prize challenges to accelerate the development of quantum applications and algorithms through public-private collaboration;

• Requires the OSTP to develop an international quantum cooperation strategy to coordinate R&D activities with allies of the United States;

• Adds the NIH, State Department, and SBA to the National Quantum Initiative to expand interagency collaboration and expertise;

• Directs the Secretary of Commerce to submit a plan to strengthen quantum supply chain resilience;

• Requires each agency to develop metrics for monitoring and evaluating advancements in quantum information science and progress toward practical quantum applications and report to Congress; and

• Directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on reducing red tape and paperwork burden related to private sector and academic participation in National Quantum Initiative activities and centers.

A copy of the bill can be found here.

Today's legislation complements Durbin's bipartisan Department of Energy (DOE) Quantum Leadership Act, which would reinvigorate R&D projects at DOE by authorizing $2.5 billion in funding over the next five years - well above the $625 million for DOE-related programs laid out in the now-expired National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018. The DOE Quantum Leadership Act would also provide DOE the authority to expand its current quantum R&D initiatives.

Durbin's DOE Quantum Leadership Act was passed out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources last month. In September, Durbin attended a Committee hearing on the legislation, speaking in support of the bill and emphasizing its importance to Illinois' two national labs, Argonne and Fermilab.

Durbin has been a strong supporter of pushing quantum research forward. In July, he visited MxD in Chicago to discuss integrating quantum technology into manufacturing processes. He also joined Illinois leaders to announce the new partnership between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Illinois - Quantum Proving Ground - to promote quantum computing research, development, and manufacturing in the state. In June, Durbin met with Dr. Stefanie Tompkins, Director of DARPA to discuss Illinois' R&D role in the defense industry.

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