[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1439 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1439

  To amend the National Quantum Initiative Act to establish a public-
 private partnership for near-term quantum application development and 
                 acceleration, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 4, 2023

  Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Lujan) introduced the following 
 bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the National Quantum Initiative Act to establish a public-
 private partnership for near-term quantum application development and 
                 acceleration, 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 ``Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term 
Applications Act of 2023''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds as follows:
            (1) The National Quantum Initiative and its ongoing 
        activities explore and promote Quantum Information Science.
            (2) Continual innovation by the quantum industry of the 
        United States is critically important.
            (3) Quantum and quantum-hybrid applications have the 
        ability to provide innovative solutions for near-term use cases 
        across a variety of public and private sector challenges.
            (4) Many quantum computers are available via the cloud and 
        through a dedicated near-term quantum application acceleration 
        program that is inclusive of the wide variety of quantum 
        computing technologies will break down barriers to access 
        quantum computing hardware systems.
            (5) Business and consumers of the United States will be 
        able to see benefits of the innovation through a program 
        focusing on near-term use of the technology.
            (6) Quantum information science is a foundational 
        technology that is transforming the economy of the 21st 
        century.
            (7) Robust leadership in quantum research and near-term 
        development will have a great impact on the economic security 
        of the United States.
            (8) Unrivaled excellence in workforce development is key in 
        developing next generation leaders in quantum applications.

SEC. 3. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR QUANTUM APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT 
              ACCELERATION.

    (a) In General.--Title IV of the National Quantum Initiative Act 
(15 U.S.C. 8851 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 405. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR QUANTUM APPLICATION 
              DEVELOPMENT ACCELERATION.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Quantum applications.--The term `quantum 
        applications' means algorithms and applications which use 
        quantum mechanics through quantum processing units. These 
        applications include quantum computing, quantum communication, 
        quantum sensing, and quantum-hybrid applications which are 
        applications that use both quantum computing and classical 
        computing hardware systems.
            ``(2) Quantum sandbox.--The term `quantum sandbox' means a 
        program--
                    ``(A) for innovation and development of 
                applications using quantum information sciences with a 
                focus on near-term use cases; and
                    ``(B) that can be used to develop and test 
                demonstrations, proofs of concepts, and pilot 
                applications.
            ``(3) Near-term use case.--The term `near-term use case' 
        means an application that can be developed and deployed in less 
        than 24 months.
    ``(b) Establishment of Quantum Sandbox Required.--The Secretary of 
Commerce shall, in coordination with the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, establish a quantum sandbox 
through the establishment of a public-private partnership focused on 
quantum application development acceleration for quantum application 
near-term use cases.
    ``(c) Engagement.--As part of the Program and in carrying out 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall, acting through the Director of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, engage with the Quantum 
Economic Development Consortium, the National Laboratories (as defined 
in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)), 
federally funded research and development centers, and other members of 
the United States quantum computing and quantum information 
ecosystem.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of 
such Act is amended by adding after the item relating to section 404 
the following new item:

``Sec. 405. Public-private partnership for quantum application 
                            development acceleration.''.
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