[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3597 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3597
To reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative Act, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 8 (legislative day, January 7), 2026
Mr. Young (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Daines, Mr. Durbin, Mrs.
Blackburn, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Budd, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Rounds, and Mr.
Schumer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative Act, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National Quantum
Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Purposes.
Sec. 4. National Quantum Initiative Program.
Sec. 5. National Quantum Coordination Office.
Sec. 6. Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science.
Sec. 7. National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee.
Sec. 8. Subcommittee on the Economic and Security Implications of
Quantum Information Science.
Sec. 9. International Quantum Cooperation Strategy.
Sec. 10. Prize challenges.
Sec. 11. Sunset of National Quantum Initiative.
Sec. 12. National Institute of Standards and Technology activities and
quantum consortium.
Sec. 13. National Institute of Standards and Technology Quantum
Centers.
Sec. 14. National Science Foundation quantum information science
research and education activities.
Sec. 15. Multidisciplinary centers for quantum research and education.
Sec. 16. Quantum Reskilling, Education, and Workforce (QREW)
Coordination Hub, quantum testbeds, and
research security.
Sec. 17. National Science Foundation cryptography research.
Sec. 18. National Aeronautics and Space Administration quantum
activities.
Sec. 19. Comptroller General review and report.
Sec. 20. Review of regulatory barriers to quantum information science
and technology development.
Sec. 21. Sunset of National Nanotechnology Program.
Sec. 22. Clerical amendments.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
Section 2 of the National Quantum Initiative Act (15 U.S.C. 8801)
is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7), the
first paragraph (8) (relating to the definition of the
``Subcommittee on Economic and Security Implications''), and
the second paragraph (8) (relating to the definition of the
``Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science'') as paragraphs
(7), (9), (12), (13), (17), and (18), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
``(4) Federal laboratory.--The term `Federal laboratory'
has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Stevenson-
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703).
``(5) Foreign country of concern.--The term `foreign
country of concern' means--
``(A) a country that is a covered nation (as such
term is defined in section 4872(d) of title 10, United
States Code); and
``(B) any country that the Secretary of Commerce,
in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of State, and the Director of National
Intelligence, determines to be engaged in conduct that
is detrimental to the national security or foreign
policy of the United States.
``(6) Foreign entity of concern.--The term `foreign entity
of concern' means a foreign entity that is--
``(A) designated as a foreign terrorist
organization by the Secretary of State under section
219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1189(a));
``(B) included on the list of specially designated
nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office
of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the
Treasury (commonly known as the `SDN list');
``(C) owned by, controlled by, or subject to the
jurisdiction or direction of a government of a foreign
country that is a covered nation (as such term is
defined in section 4872 of title 10, United States
Code);
``(D) alleged by the Attorney General to have been
involved in activities for which a conviction was
obtained under--
``(i) chapter 37 of title 18, United States
Code (commonly known as the `Espionage Act');
``(ii) section 951 or 1030 of title 18,
United States Code;
``(iii) chapter 90 of title 18, United
States Code (commonly known as the `Economic
Espionage Act of 1996');
``(iv) the Arms Export Control Act (22
U.S.C. 2751 et seq.);
``(v) section 224, 225, 226, 227, or 236 of
the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2274,
2275, 2276, 2277, and 2284);
``(vi) the Export Control Reform Act of
2018 (50 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.); or
``(vii) the International Emergency
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.);
or
``(E) determined by the Secretary of Commerce, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the
Director of National Intelligence, to be engaged in
unauthorized conduct that is detrimental to the
national security or foreign policy of the United
States.'';
(3) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by striking
``(a)'' each place it appears;
(4) by inserting after paragraph (7), as so redesignated,
the following new paragraph:
``(8) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory'
has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).'';
(5) by inserting after paragraph (9), as so redesignated,
the following:
``(10) Quantum applications.--The term `quantum
applications' means uses of quantum information science,
engineering, and technology, including quantum algorithms and
software, quantum computing and quantum-classical hybrids,
quantum sensing, quantum networking, quantum encryption,
quantum simulation, or quantum communications applications.
``(11) Quantum computing.--The term `quantum computing'
means any of a variety of quantum computing technologies,
including quantum annealing and quantum gate-model systems that
utilize a variety of architectures, such as superconductors,
ion traps, photonics, neutral atoms, atomic spin, electron
spin, or topological qubits.'';
(6) by amending paragraph (12), as so redesignated, to read
as follows:
``(12) Quantum information science, engineering, and
technology.--The term `quantum information science,
engineering, and technology' means the understanding,
translation, use, or application of the laws of quantum physics
for the storage, transmission, manipulation, computing,
simulation, or measurement of information.''; and
(7) by inserting after paragraph (13), as so redesignated,
the following:
``(14) Quantum networking.--The term `quantum networking'
means the transmission of quantum information and the
distribution and use of entanglement across nodes to enable new
information technology applications and fundamental science.
``(15) Quantum sensing.--The term `quantum sensing'--
``(A) means the use of quantum mechanics to enhance
or enable new sensors; and
``(B) can include uses of superposition and
entanglement, nonclassical states, and advances in
accuracy and precision enabled by quantum control.
``(16) STEM.--The term `STEM' means the academic and
professional disciplines of science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics, including computer science.
``(17) Supply chain shock.--The term `supply chain shock'--
``(A) means an event causing severe or serious
disruption to normal operations or capacity in a supply
chain; and
``(B) includes--
``(i) a natural disaster;
``(ii) a pandemic;
``(iii) a biological threat;
``(iv) a cyber attack;
``(v) a geopolitical conflict;
``(vi) a terrorist or geopolitical attack;
``(vii) a trade disruption caused by--
``(I) a foreign country of concern;
or
``(II) an entity or an individual
subject to the jurisdiction of such a
country; and
``(viii) an event for which the President
declares a major disaster or an emergency under
section 401 or 501, respectively, of the Robert
T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170; 42 U.S.C.
5191).''.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
Section 3 of the National Quantum Initiative Act (15 U.S.C. 8802)
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as
follows:
``(A) to expand the number of researchers,
educators, and students with training in quantum
information science, engineering, and technology to
develop a domestic workforce pipeline and retain
international talent to the extent consistent with
national security and international competitiveness;'';
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``science at
the'' and inserting ``science, engineering, and
technology at the primary, secondary,'';
(C) in subparagraph (D)--
(i) by striking ``science and technology''
and inserting ``science, engineering, and
technology''; and
(ii) by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) to facilitate development of quantum
applications, including quantum-hybrid applications, to
promote innovation; and
``(G) to support advancements in emerging
technologies that could benefit from or benefit the
development of quantum technology and promote research,
development, demonstration, and application of such
emerging technologies in quantum information science,
engineering, and technology and scientific
discovery.'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``science and
technology'' and inserting ``science, engineering, and
technology'';
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``science and
technology'' and inserting ``science, engineering, and
technology'';
(4) in paragraph (4)--
(A) by inserting ``National Laboratories,'' after
``Federal laboratories,''; and
(B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(5) in paragraph (5)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
(i) by inserting ``partnerships, research
collaborations, and'' after ``international'';
and
(ii) by striking ``science and technology
security'' and inserting ``science,
engineering, and technology'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after
the semicolon;
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) to facilitate cooperation in the advancement
of quantum capabilities among the United States and its
strategic allies and partners to strengthen and secure
the quantum-relevant supply chain and related
ecosystem; and
``(D) to coordinate on potential export or
strategic trade controls where appropriate; and''; and
(6) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) improving the maturity and scale of the quantum
industry.''.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE PROGRAM.
Subsection (b) of section 101 of the National Quantum Initiative
Act (15 U.S.C. 8811) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``development'' and inserting
``research development, and near-, medium-, and long-
term demonstration''; and
(B) by striking ``information science and
technology'';
(2) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``science and technology'' and
inserting ``science, engineering, and technology''; and
(B) by inserting ``infrastructure,'' after
``demonstration,'';
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by inserting ``and retain'' after ``to
develop''; and
(B) by striking ``science and technology'' and
inserting ``science, engineering, and technology'';
(4) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(4) provide for interagency planning and coordination of
Federal quantum information science, engineering, and
technology research, development, demonstration, standards
engagement, and other activities under the Program, including
activities authorized pursuant to section 234 of the John S.
McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019
(Public Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. 4001 note), quantum educational
activities and programs authorized pursuant to section 10661 of
the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act
(42 U.S.C. 19261), and activities conducted at any Federal
laboratory or National Laboratory;''; and
(5) in paragraph (5)--
(A) by striking ``industry and universities'' and
inserting ``industry, universities, small businesses,
and strategic allies and partners''; and
(B) by inserting ``, including human resources''
after ``resources''.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL QUANTUM COORDINATION OFFICE.
Section 102 of the National Quantum Initiative Act (15 U.S.C. 8812)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``who shall
be'' before ``appointed''; and
(B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as
follows:
``(B) staff comprised of employees detailed from
the Federal departments and agencies specified in
section 103(b).''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ``science and
technology'' and inserting ``science, engineering, and
technology research, development, workforce, and
international'';
(B) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows:
``(4) ensure coordination among the collaborative ventures
or consortia established under this Act, including under
section 201(a), the Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum
Research and Education established under section 302(a), and
the National Quantum Information Science Research Centers
established under section 402(a), and the Quantum Economic
Development Consortium;'';
(C) in paragraph (6), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(D) in paragraph (7)--
(i) by inserting ``nonprofit research
organizations,'' after ``universities,''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(E) by adding after paragraph (7), the following:
``(8) promote understanding and adoption of viable quantum
capabilities that strengthen the United States economy, as may
be appropriate;
``(9) track, monitor, and promote policies that will ensure
the stability of the United States quantum workforce, quantum
supply chain, domestic quantum industry, and international
trade; and
``(10) ensure coordination and avoid unnecessary
duplication of existing quantum-related activities, other
activities carried out under this Act, and other related
programs, as appropriate.''.
SEC. 6. SUBCOMMITTEE ON QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE.
Section 103 of the National Quantum Initiative Act (15 U.S.C. 8813)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(B) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph
(12); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following
new paragraphs:
``(9) the Department of Health and Human Services;
``(10) the Department of State;
``(11) the Department of Homeland Security; and'';
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the qu