The Senate on Dec. 13 approved by unanimous consent HR 6227, the National Quantum Initiative Act, which would create a Federal program to speed quantum research and development “for the economic and national security” of the United States. The House approved the bill in September.
The legislation aims to establish goals and priorities for a ten-year plan to accelerate quantum information science and technology applications development.
Among other things, the bill would establish a National Quantum Coordination Office in the White House Office of Science and Technology to serve as a central point of contact for stakeholders and promote commercialization of Federal research, support basic quantum science research and standards development at the National Institute for Standards and Technology, and fund related research by the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.