Senate Commerce Committee unanimously advances quantum initiative reauthorization
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has unanimously passed the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, advancing bipartisan legislation that backers say will strengthen U.S. leadership in quantum technologies and the workforce needed to sustain it.
“We need to ensure the United States has the talent and research capabilities required to lead the global tech competition and outcompete China,” Senator Todd Young said, calling quantum technologies poised to transform industries and bolster national and economic security.
“This legislation, which reauthorizes the NQI, is critical to ensuring American leadership in quantum technology.” Committee Chair Maria Cantwell said quantum is a “game-changer” from healthcare to clean energy and argued federal investment is vital to move from basic science to practical applications.
She added that Washington state is positioned to become “Quantum Valley,” and said the initiative’s focus on workforce development, ally cooperation and resilient supply chains would spur innovation and create high-skilled jobs. Since Congress enacted the National Quantum Initiative in 2018, the program has helped catalyze a rapidly growing U.S.
quantum ecosystem, supporting the emergence of dozens of venture-backed startups and a broader industry spanning quantum computing, networking and sensing. According to the initiative’s record, researchers have produced thousands of peer-reviewed publications and patents, and a new generation of quantum engineers has been trained.
Federal coordination under the NQI has driven billions of dollars in public and private investment, accelerating breakthroughs and strengthening U.S. leadership in standards and measurement science. The reauthorization bill would extend the initiative across the full research-to-application spectrum.
It would expand the NQI to include National Aeronautics and Space Administration research initiatives, including quantum satellite communications and quantum sensing.
The legislation would also establish up to three new National Institute of Standards and Technology quantum centers; create three new National Science Foundation Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education; launch a quantum education and workforce hub; and set up new quantum testbeds.
Supporters say these centers, hubs and testbeds would provide shared infrastructure to scale research, speed translation of breakthroughs into applications and train future quantum scientists and engineers.
Lawmakers backing the bill argue that renewing and expanding the National Quantum Initiative would position the United States to drive innovation, benefit from economic growth and support high-skilled employment while safeguarding economic and national security.