[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3143 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3143

  To provide for a coordinated Federal program to accelerate quantum 
research and development for the economic and national security of the 
                             United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 26, 2018

 Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. Nelson) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To provide for a coordinated Federal program to accelerate quantum 
research and development for the economic and national security of the 
                             United States.

    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 Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Purposes.
                  TITLE I--NATIONAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE

Sec. 101. National Quantum Initiative Program.
Sec. 102. National Quantum Coordination Office.
Sec. 103. Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science.
Sec. 104. National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee.
Sec. 105. Sunset.
   TITLE II--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY QUANTUM 
                               ACTIVITIES

Sec. 201. National Institute of Standards and Technology Activities and 
                            Quantum Workshop.
 TITLE III--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY CENTERS 
                   FOR QUANTUM RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

Sec. 301. Quantum Information Science Research and Education Program.
Sec. 302. Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education.
Sec. 303. Spending limitation.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee'' 
        means the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee 
        established under section 104(a).
            (2) Coordination office.--The term ``Coordination Office'' 
        means the National Quantum Coordination Office established 
        under section 102(a).
            (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (4) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the National 
        Quantum Initiative Program implemented under section 101(a).
            (5) Quantum information science.--The term ``quantum 
        information science'' means the storage, transmission, 
        manipulation, or measurement of information that is encoded in 
        systems that can only be described by the laws of quantum 
        physics.
            (6) Subcommittee.--The term ``Subcommittee'' means the 
        Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science of the National 
        Science and Technology Council established under section 
        103(a).

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are to ensure the continued leadership of 
the United States in quantum information science and its technology 
applications by--
            (1) supporting research, development, demonstration, and 
        application of quantum information science and technology in 
        order to--
                    (A) expand the number of researchers, educators, 
                and students with training in quantum information 
                science and technology to develop a workforce pipeline;
                    (B) promote the development and inclusion of 
                multidisciplinary curriculum and research opportunities 
                for quantum information science at the undergraduate, 
                graduate, and postdoctoral level;
                    (C) address basic research knowledge gaps;
                    (D) promote the further development of facilities 
                and centers available for quantum information science 
                and technology research, testing and education; and
                    (E) stimulate research on and promote more rapid 
                development of quantum-based technologies;
            (2) improving the interagency planning and coordination of 
        Federal research and development of quantum information science 
        and technology and maximizing the effectiveness of the Federal 
        Government's quantum information science and technology 
        research and development programs;
            (3) promoting collaboration among government, Federal 
        laboratories, industry, and universities; and
            (4) promoting the development of standards for quantum 
        information science and technology security.

                  TITLE I--NATIONAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE

SEC. 101. NATIONAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE PROGRAM.

    The President shall implement a 10-year National Quantum Initiative 
Program. In carrying out the Program, the President shall, acting 
through appropriate Federal agencies, councils, working groups, 
subcommittees, and the Coordination Office--
            (1) establish the goals, priorities, and metrics for a 10-
        year plan to accelerate development of quantum information 
        science and technology applications in the United States;
            (2) invest in fundamental Federal quantum information 
        science and technology research, development, demonstration, 
        and other activities to achieve the goals established in 
        paragraph (1);
            (3) invest in activities to develop a quantum information 
        science and technology workforce pipeline;
            (4) provide for interagency coordination of Federal quantum 
        information science and technology research, development, 
        demonstration, and other activities undertaken pursuant to the 
        Program;
            (5) partner with industry and academia to leverage 
        knowledge and resources; and
            (6) leverage existing Federal investments efficiently to 
        advance Program goals and objectives.

SEC. 102. NATIONAL QUANTUM COORDINATION OFFICE.

    (a) Establishment.--The President shall establish a National 
Quantum Coordination Office, which shall have--
            (1) a Director appointed by the Director of the Office of 
        Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with the 
        Secretary of Commerce, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation, and the Secretary of Energy; and
            (2) staff that shall be comprised of employees detailed 
        from the Federal agencies that are members of the Subcommittee.
    (b) Responsibilities.--The Coordination Office shall--
            (1) provide technical and administrative support to--
                    (A) the Subcommittee; and
                    (B) the Advisory Committee;
            (2) oversee interagency coordination of the Program, 
        including encouraging and supporting joint agency solicitation 
        and selection of applications for funding of projects under the 
        Program;
            (3) serve as the point of contact on Federal civilian 
        quantum information science and technology activities for 
        Government organizations, academia, industry, professional 
        societies, State governments, and others to exchange technical 
        and programmatic information;
            (4) ensure coordination between 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);
            (5) conduct public outreach, including dissemination of 
        findings and recommendations of the Advisory Committee, as 
        appropriate; and
            (6) promote access to and early application of the 
        technologies, innovations, and expertise derived from Program 
        activities to agency missions and systems across the Federal 
        Government, and to United States industry, including startup 
        companies.
    (c) Funding.--Funds necessary to carry out the activities of the 
Coordination Office shall be made available each fiscal year by the 
participating agencies of the Subcommittee, as determined by the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

SEC. 103. SUBCOMMITTEE ON QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE.

    (a) Establishment.--The President shall establish, through the 
National Science and Technology Council, a Subcommittee on Quantum 
Information Science.
    (b) Membership.--The Subcommittee shall include--
            (1) the National Institute of Standards and Technology;
            (2) the National Science Foundation;
            (3) the Department of Energy;
            (4) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
            (5) the Department of Defense;
            (6) the Office of the Director of National Intelligence;
            (7) the Office of Management and Budget;
            (8) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and
            (9) any other Federal agency as considered appropriate by 
        the President.
    (c) Chairs.--The Subcommittee shall be jointly chaired by the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 
Director of the National Science Foundation, and the Secretary of 
Energy.
    (d) Responsibilities.--The Subcommittee shall--
            (1) coordinate the quantum information science and 
        technology research and education activities and programs of 
        the Federal agencies;
            (2) establish goals and priorities of the Program, based on 
        identified knowledge and workforce gaps and other national 
        needs;
            (3) assess and recommend Federal infrastructure needs to 
        support the Program; and
            (4) evaluate opportunities for international cooperation 
        with strategic allies on research and development in quantum 
        information science and technology.
    (e) Strategic Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee shall develop a 5-year 
strategic plan, and 6 years after enactment of the Act develop an 
additional 5-year strategic plan, with periodic updates as appropriate 
to guide the activities of the Program, meet the goals, priorities, and 
anticipated outcomes of the participating agencies.
    (f) Reports.--The Chairs of the Subcommittee shall submit to the 
President, the Advisory Committee, the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate, and other appropriate committees of Congress 
the strategic plans developed under subsection (e) and any updates to 
such plans.

SEC. 104. NATIONAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) In General.--The President shall establish a National Quantum 
Initiative Advisory Committee.
    (b) Qualifications.--The Advisory Committee established by the 
President under subsection (a) shall consist of members from industry, 
academic institutions, and Federal laboratories. The President shall 
appoint members to the Advisory Committee who are qualified to provide 
advice and information on quantum information science and technology 
research, development, demonstrations, education, technology transfer, 
commercial application, or national security and economic concerns.
    (c) Membership Consideration.--In selecting an Advisory Committee, 
the President may seek and give consideration to recommendations from 
the Congress, industry, the scientific community (including the 
National Academy of Sciences, scientific professional societies, and 
academia), the defense community, and other appropriate organizations.
    (d) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall advise the President and 
the Subcommittee and make recommendations that shall be considered in 
reviewing and revising the Program. The Advisory Committee shall 
provide the President and the Subcommittee with an independent 
assessment of--
            (1) trends and developments in quantum information science 
        and technology;
            (2) progress made in implementing the Program;
            (3) whether the Program activities, priorities, and 
        technical goals developed by the Subcommittee are helping to 
        maintain United States leadership in quantum information 
        science and technology;
            (4) the management, coordination, implementation, and 
        activities of the Program;
            (5) the need to revise the Program;
            (6) whether or not there are opportunities for 
        international cooperation with strategic allies on research and 
        development in quantum information science and technology; and
            (7) whether national security, societal, economic, legal, 
        and workforce concerns are adequately addressed by the Program.
    (e) Reports.--The Advisory Committee shall report, not less 
frequently than once every 2 years, to the President on the assessments 
required under subsection (d) and any recommendations to improve the 
Program. The first report under this subsection shall be submitted not 
later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act. The 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall transmit 
a copy of each report under this subsection to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and other 
appropriate committees of the Congress.
    (f) Travel Expenses of Non-Federal Members.--Non-Federal members of 
the Advisory Committee, while attending meetings of the Advisory 
Committee or while otherwise serving at the request of the head of the 
Advisory Committee away from their homes or regular places of business, 
may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States 
Code, for individuals in the Government serving without pay. Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed to prohibit members of the Advisory 
Committee who are officers or employees of the United States from being 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with existing law.
    (g) Exemption.--The Advisory Committee shall be exempt from section 
14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).

SEC. 105. SUNSET.

    (a) In General.--Except as provided for in subsection (b), the 
authority to carry out sections 101, 102, 103, and 104 shall terminate 
on the date that is 11 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Extension.--The President may continue the activities under 
such sections if the President determines that such activities are 
necessary to meet national economic or national security needs.

   TITLE II--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY QUANTUM 
                               ACTIVITIES

SEC. 201. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES AND 
              QUANTUM WORKSHOP.

    (a) National Institute of Standards and Technology Activities.--As 
part of the Program described in title I, the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology shall--
            (1) continue to support and expand basic quantum 
        information science and technology research and development of 
        measurement and standards infrastructure necessary to advance 
        commercial development of quantum applications;
            (2) use its existing programs, in collaboration with other 
        agencies, as appropriate, to train scientists in quantum 
        information science and technology to increase participation in 
        the quantum fields;
            (3) establish or expand collaborative ventures or consortia 
        with other public or private sector entities, including 
        academia, National Laboratories, and industry for the purpose 
        of advancing the field of quantum information science and 
        engineering; and
            (4) have the authority to enter into and perform such 
        contracts, including cooperative research and development 
        arrangements and grants and cooperative agreements or other 
        transactions, as may be necessary in the conduct of the work of 
        the Institute and on such terms as the Director considers 
        appropriate, in furtherance of the purposes of this Act.
    (b) Quantum Workshop.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute 
        of Standards and Technology shall convene a workshop of 
        stakeholders to discuss the future measurement, standards, 
        cybersecurity, and other appropriate needs for supporting the 
        development of a robust quantum information science and 
        technology industry in the United States. The goals of the 
        workshop shall be to--
                    (A) assess the current research on the issues 
                described in this paragraph;
                    (B) evaluate the research gaps relating to such 
                issues; and
                    (C) provide recommendations on how the National 
                Institute of Standards and Technology and the Program 
                can address the research needs identified.
            (2) Report to congress.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology shall transmit to the 
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate a summary report containing the 
        findings of the workshop convened under this section.
    (c) Funding.--The Secretary of Commerce shall devote $400,000,000 
to carry out this section, which shall include $80,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2019 through 2023, subject to the availability of 
appropriations, to come from amounts made available for the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology. This section shall be carried 
out using funds otherwise appropriated by law after the date of 
enactment of this Act.

 TITLE III--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY CENTERS 
                   FOR QUANTUM RESEARCH AND EDUCATION

SEC. 301. QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall carry out a basic research and education program on quantum 
information science and engineering.
    (b) Program Components.--In carrying out the program required under 
subsection (a), the Director of the National Science Foundation shall 
carry out activities that continue to support basic interdisciplinary 
quantum information science and engineering research, and support human 
resources development in all aspects of quantum information science and 
engineering. Such activities shall include--
            (1) using the existing programs of the National Science 
        Foundation, in collaboration with other Federal agencies, as 
        appropriate, to--
                    (A) improve the teaching and learning of quantum 
                information science and engineering at the 
                undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels; and
                    (B) increase participation in the quantum fields, 
                including by individuals identified in sections 33 and 
                34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a; 42 U.S.C. 1885b);
            (2) formulating goals for quantum information science and 
        engineering research and education activities to be supported 
        by the National Science Foundation;
            (3) leveraging the collective body of knowledge from 
        existing quantum information science and engineering research 
        and education activities;
            (4) coordinating research efforts funded through existing 
        programs across the directorates of the National Science 
        Foundation; and
            (5) engaging with other Federal agencies, research 
        communities, and potential users of information produced under 
        this section.

SEC. 302. MULTIDISCIPLINARY CENTERS FOR QUANTUM RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.

    (a) Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation, in consultation with other Federal agencies as 
        appropriate, shall award grants to institutions of higher 
        education or eligible nonprofit organizations (or consortia 
        thereof) to establish up to 5 Multidisciplinary Centers for 
        Quantum Research and Education.
            (2) Collaborations.--A collaboration receiving an award 
        under this subsection may include institutions of higher 
        education, eligible nonprofit organizations, and private sector 
        entities.
            (3) Purpose.--The purpose of the Centers shall be to 
        conduct basic research and education activities in support of 
        the goals and priorities of the Program as determined in title 
        I, to--
                    (A) continue to advance quantum information science 
                and engineering;
                    (B) support curriculum and workforce development in 
                quantum information science and engineering; and
                    (C) foster innovation by bringing industry 
                perspectives to quantum research and workforce 
                development, including by leveraging industry resources 
                and research capacity.
            (4) Requirements.--An institution of higher education or an 
        eligible nonprofit organization (or a consortium thereof) 
        seeking funding under this section shall submit an application 
        to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing 
        such information as the Director may require. The application 
        shall include, at a minimum, a description of--
                    (A) how the Center will work with other research 
                institutions and industry partners to leverage 
                expertise in quantum science, education and curriculum 
                development, and technology transfer;
                    (B) how the Center will promote active 
                collaboration among researchers in multiple disciplines 
                involved in quantum research including physics, 
                engineering, mathematics, computer science, chemistry, 
                and material science;
                    (C) how the Center will support long-term and 
                short-term workforce development in the quantum field;
                    (D) how the Center can support an innovation 
                ecosystem to work with industry to translate Center 
                research into applications; and
                    (E) a long-term plan to become self-sustaining 
                after the expiration of Foundation support.
            (5) Selection and duration.--
                    (A) In general.--The Centers selected and 
                established under this section are authorized to carry 
                out activities for a period of 5 years.
                    (B) Reapplication.--An awardee may reapply for an 
                additional, subsequent period of 5 years on a 
                competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
                    (C) Termination.--Consistent with the existing 
                authorities of the Foundation, the Director of the 
                National Science Foundation may terminate an 
                underperforming Center for cause during the performance 
                period.
            (6) Funding.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall devote $250,000,000 to carry out this section, 
        which shall include $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 
        through 2023, subject to the availability of appropriations, to 
        come from amounts made available for Research and Related 
        Activities and Education and Human Resources. This section 
        shall be carried out using funds otherwise appropriated by law 
        after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Graduate Traineeships.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation may establish a program to provide traineeships to graduate 
students at institutions of higher education within the United States 
who are citizens of the United States and who choose to pursue masters 
or doctoral degrees in quantum information science.

SEC. 303. SPENDING LIMITATION.

    No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and this Act and such 
amendments shall be carried out using amounts otherwise available for 
such purpose.
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