[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3673 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3673

  To require the Secretary of Energy to carry out quantum information 
               science research, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 28, 2018

Ms. Murkowski (for herself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Daines, Mr. Gardner, Ms. 
Harris, and Mr. Heinrich) introduced the following bill; which was read 
  twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require the Secretary of Energy to carry out quantum information 
               science research, 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Energy Quantum 
Information Science Research Act''.

SEC. 2. QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy shall carry out a basic 
research program on quantum information science.
    (b) Program Components.--In carrying out the program required under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            (1) formulate goals for quantum information science 
        research to be supported by the Department of Energy;
            (2) leverage the collective body of knowledge from existing 
        quantum information science research;
            (3) provide research experiences and training for 
        additional undergraduate and graduate students in quantum 
        information science, including in the fields of--
                    (A) quantum information theory;
                    (B) quantum physics;
                    (C) quantum computational science;
                    (D) applied mathematics and algorithm development;
                    (E) quantum networking;
                    (F) quantum sensing and detection; and
                    (G) materials science and engineering;
            (4) coordinate research efforts funded through existing 
        programs across the Department, including the National 
        Laboratories, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, the 
        Energy Frontier Research Centers, the Nanoscale Science 
        Research Centers, the Energy Innovation Hubs, and the National 
        Quantum Information Science Research Centers established under 
        section 3; and
            (5) coordinate with other Federal agencies, research 
        communities, and potential users of information produced under 
        this section.

SEC. 3. NATIONAL QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTERS.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Energy, acting through 
        the Director of the Office of Science (referred to in this 
        section as the ``Director'') shall ensure that the Office of 
        Science carries out a program, in consultation with other 
        Federal agencies, as appropriate, to establish and operate at 
        least 2, but not more than 5, research centers to be known as 
        ``National Quantum Information Science Research Centers'' to 
        conduct basic research to accelerate scientific breakthroughs 
        in quantum information science and technology and to support 
        research conducted under the program established in section 2.
            (2) Requirements.--Such centers shall be established 
        through a competitive, merit-reviewed process, and applicants 
        shall submit to the Director an application at such time, in 
        such manner, and containing such information as the Director 
        determines to be appropriate. The Director shall consider 
        applications from National Laboratories, institutions of higher 
        education, research centers, multi-institutional 
        collaborations, and any other entity that the Secretary 
        determines to be appropriate.
    (b) Collaborations.--A collaboration that receives assistance under 
this section may include multiple types of research institutions and 
private sector entities.
    (c) Requirements.--To the maximum extent practicable, the Centers 
developed, constructed, operated, or maintained under this section 
shall serve the needs of the Department of Energy, industry, the 
academic community, and other relevant entities to create and develop 
processes for the purpose of advancing basic research in quantum 
information science and improving the competitiveness of the United 
States.
    (d) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure the coordination, and 
avoid unnecessary duplication, of the activities of each National 
Quantum Information Science Research Center with the activities of--
            (1) other research entities of the Department, including--
                    (A) the Nanoscale Science Research Centers;
                    (B) the Energy Frontier Research Centers;
                    (C) the Energy Innovation Hubs;
                    (D) the National Laboratories; and
                    (E) institutions of higher education; and
            (2) industry.
    (e) Selection and Duration.--
            (1) In general.--The centers selected and established under 
        this section are authorized to carry out activities for a 
        period of 5 years.
            (2) Reapplication and approval.--An awardee may reapply for 
        additional, subsequent periods of 5 years. The Director shall 
        approve or disapprove of an application on a competitive, 
        merit-reviewed basis.
            (3) Termination.--Consistent with the existing authorities 
        of the Department, the Secretary may terminate an 
        underperforming Center for cause during the performance period.
    (f) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Department of Energy for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, up to 
$25,000,000 for each Center established under this section, subject to 
the availability of appropriations. This section shall be carried out 
using funds otherwise appropriated by law after the date of enactment 
of this Act.
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