[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4105 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4105

To direct the Secretary of Defense to accelerate the implementation of 
   quantum information science technologies within the Department of 
                    Defense, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 10, 2024

Mrs. Blackburn introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Defense to accelerate the implementation of 
   quantum information science technologies within the Department of 
                    Defense, 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 ``Defense Quantum Acceleration Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. JOINT QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE DEFENSE TRANSITION 
              ACTIVITIES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 301 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 4001 the following new section:
``Sec. 4002. Joint quantum information science defense transition 
              activities
    ``(a) Activities Required.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish 
        a set of activities to accelerate the adoption and 
        implementation quantum information science technology within 
        the Department of Defense.
            ``(2) Elements.--Pursuant to the activities established 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the 
        Principal Quantum Advisor designated under subsection (b), 
        shall--
                    ``(A) explore and identify quantum information 
                science technologies and use cases that--
                            ``(i) have demonstrated value in advancing 
                        the priorities and missions of the Department; 
                        and
                            ``(ii) may be applied to address 
                        operational problems;
                    ``(B) develop plans to transition such quantum 
                information science technologies from the research and 
                development phase to operational use within the 
                Department, including within each of the Armed Forces; 
                and
                    ``(C) carry out such transition plans.
    ``(b) Designation of Principal Quantum Advisor.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of the enactment of the Defense Quantum Acceleration Act of 
        2024, the Secretary of Defense shall designate a senior 
        official of the Department of Defense to serve as the Principal 
        Quantum Advisor for the Department.
            ``(2) Responsibilities.--The Principal Quantum Advisor 
        shall serve as the official within the Department of Defense 
        with principal responsibility for--
                    ``(A) coordinating activities relating to the 
                accelerated demonstration and transition of quantum 
                information science technologies for applications 
                specific to operational challenges faced by the 
                Department;
                    ``(B) coordinating, overseeing, and managing the 
                set of activities established under subsection (a);
                    ``(C) carrying out the activities described in 
                paragraphs (3) through (6); and
                    ``(D) carrying out such other duties relating to 
                the development and implementation of quantum 
                information science technologies as the Secretary may 
                direct.
            ``(3) Defining and codifying defense quantum information 
        science use cases.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Principal Quantum Advisor 
                shall--
                            ``(i) identify operational challenges faced 
                        by the Department of Defense that have the 
                        potential to be addressed through the use of 
                        quantum information science-technology based 
                        solutions, including solutions based on the 
                        quantum information science technology areas 
                        described subparagraph (C);
                            ``(ii) for each such challenge, determine 
                        if the implementation of a quantum information 
                        science technology-based solution has the 
                        potential to be significantly more effective at 
                        addressing such challenge compared to a non-
                        quantum information science technology-based 
                        solution, taking into account the technology 
                        and manufacturing readiness level of the 
                        quantum information science technology-based 
                        solution;
                            ``(iii) for each potential quantum 
                        information science technology-based solution 
                        identified under clause (ii), evaluate and 
                        determine the technology and manufacturing 
                        readiness level of the solution taking into 
                        account the current readiness level of such 
                        solution--
                                    ``(I) within the Department;
                                    ``(II) among other departments and 
                                agencies of the Federal Government;
                                    ``(III) among Five Eyes countries; 
                                and
                                    ``(IV) within academia and 
                                industry.
                            ``(iv) for each quantum information science 
                        technology-based solution determined under 
                        clause (iii) to have a technology and 
                        manufacturing readiness level of 5 or higher, 
                        begin prototyping and evaluation activities of 
                        such solution at scale in operationally 
                        relevant environments by not later than the end 
                        of fiscal year 2025; and
                            ``(v) for each quantum information science 
                        technology-based solution determined under 
                        clause (iii) to have a technology and 
                        manufacturing readiness level of 4 or lower, 
                        submit to Congress a plan for funding such 
                        solution over the period of five fiscal years 
                        following the date of the report using 
                        research, development, test, and evaluation 
                        funds designated as budget activity 1 (basic 
                        research), budget activity 2 (applied 
                        research), budget activity 3 (advanced 
                        technology development), or budget activity 4 
                        (advanced component development and prototypes) 
                        as those budget activity classifications are 
                        set forth in volume 2B, chapter 5 of the 
                        Department of Defense Financial Management 
                        Regulation (DOD 7000.14-R), or successor 
                        regulation.
                    ``(B) Coordination.--In carrying out this 
                paragraph, the Principal Quantum Advisor shall 
                coordinate with and seek input from the Armed Forces 
                and unified combatant commands--
                            ``(i) to identify and better understand the 
                        operational requirements of such Armed Forces 
                        and commands; and
                            ``(ii) to ensure that the timeline for 
                        transitioning any quantum information science 
                        technology-based capability to operational use 
                        within the Armed Forces and combatant commands 
                        aligns with--
                                    ``(I) the plans of such Forces and 
                                commands across the period covered by 
                                the future-years defense program; and
                                    ``(II) the program objective 
                                memorandum processes for such Forces 
                                and commands.
                    ``(C) Quantum information science technology areas 
                described.--The quantum information science technology 
                areas described in this subparagraph are the following:
                            ``(i) Quantum sensing, including--
                                    ``(I) alternative precision 
                                navigation and timing;
                                    ``(II) undersea or underground 
                                detection;
                                    ``(III) advanced intelligence, 
                                surveillance, and reconnaissance 
                                quantum imaging techniques; and
                                    ``(IV) biomedical and health care.
                            ``(ii) Quantum computing, including--
                                    ``(I) annealing;
                                    ``(II) quantum-enabled machine 
                                learning;
                                    ``(III) simulation and 
                                optimization; and
                                    ``(IV) integrating quantum 
                                computing with high-performance 
                                supercomputing.
                            ``(iii) Quantum annealing.
                            ``(iv) Quantum communications, networking, 
                        and networked quantum computers.
                            ``(v) Quantum-enabled modeling and 
                        simulation.
                            ``(vi) Hybrid quantum computing and the 
                        integration of quantum and classical computing 
                        components.
                            ``(vii) Such other quantum-enabled 
                        technologies as the Principal Quantum Advisor 
                        considers appropriate.
            ``(4) Acceleration of development and fielding of quantum 
        information science technologies.--The Principal Quantum 
        Advisor shall--
                    ``(A) use the flexibility of regulations, 
                personnel, acquisition, partnerships with industry and 
                academia, or other relevant policies of the Department 
                to accelerate the transition and fielding of quantum 
                information science technologies;
                    ``(B) ensure engagement with combatant commands, 
                defense and private industries, research universities, 
                and unaffiliated, nonprofit research institutions on 
                matters relating such quantum information science 
                technologies; and
                    ``(C) provide technical advice and support 
                organizations and elements of the Department of 
                Defense, including the Armed Forces, to optimize the 
                use of quantum information science technologies to meet 
                mission requirements.
            ``(5) Industry and academia engagement.--
                    ``(A) Inclusion in consortium.--The Secretary, in 
                coordination with the Director of the National 
                Institute of Standards and Technology, shall ensure 
                that the Principal Quantum Advisor is included in the 
                activities of the consortium established pursuant to 
                section 201(b) of the National Quantum Initiative Act 
                (15 U.S.C. 8831(b)).
                    ``(B) Outreach activities.--Not less frequently 
                than once each quarter, the Principal Quantum Advisor 
                shall conduct outreach and engagement with industry and 
                academic leaders--
                            ``(i) to educate organizations in the 
                        quantum information science industrial base on 
                        national security quantum information science 
                        use cases and operational challenges faced by 
                        the Department that have the potential to be 
                        addressed through the use of quantum 
                        information science technology-based solutions 
                        as described in paragraph (3);
                            ``(ii) to the extent determined appropriate 
                        by the Principal Quantum Advisor, provide 
                        industry with the opportunity to identify 
                        quantum information science technology-based 
                        solutions to operational challenges faced by 
                        the Department;
                            ``(iii) to educate organizations in the 
                        Defense industrial base on near-term and 
                        commercially available quantum information 
                        science technology-based solutions that provide 
                        operationally relevant warfighting 
                        capabilities;
                            ``(iv) to advance relevant quantum 
                        information science supply chains and 
                        manufacturing capabilities within the United 
                        States and among allies and partners of the 
                        United States; and
                            ``(v) to facilitate the commercialization 
                        of quantum information science technology-based 
                        solutions developed by the research and 
                        engineering organizations of the Department of 
                        Defense.
            ``(6) Allied quantum enhancement.--
                    ``(A) Alignment with aukus efforts.--Based on the 
                quantum information science use cases identified under 
                paragraph (3)(A)(ii), the Principal Quantum Advisor 
                shall--
                            ``(i) identify areas in which the United 
                        Kingdom and Australia, pursuant to Pillar II 
                        the partnership among Australia, the United 
                        Kingdom, and the United States (commonly known 
                        as `AUKUS' ) are pursuing technology aligned 
                        with such use cases; and
                            ``(ii) align Department research and 
                        development and procurement funding in relation 
                        to quantum information science technologies on 
                        accelerating opportunities where Australia and 
                        the United Kingdom are pursuing such 
                        technologies.
                    ``(B) Multilateral aukus and nato meetings.--The 
                Principal Quantum Advisor shall organize--
                            ``(i) a recurring multilateral meeting of 
                        quantum technology experts from the United 
                        States, the United Kingdom, and Australia to 
                        facilitate information-sharing and planning 
                        relevant to quantum information science 
                        technology and defense-specific use cases for 
                        such technology; and
                            ``(ii) a recurring multilateral meeting of 
                        quantum technology experts from member nations 
                        of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to 
                        facilitate such information-sharing and 
                        planning.
    ``(c) Strategic Plan.--
            ``(1) Plan required.--The Secretary shall develop strategic 
        plan to guide the development, assessment, procurement, and 
        implementation of quantum information science technologies 
        within the Department over the period of five years following 
        the date of the plan.
            ``(2) Elements.--The plan required under paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following:
                    ``(A) Plans for the continuous evaluation, 
                development, and implementation of quantum information 
                science technology solutions within the Department.
                    ``(B) Plans for the development, review, 
                performance evaluation, and adoption of a fault-
                tolerant, utility-scale quantum computer and the 
                transition of that capability to appropriate 
                organizations and elements of the Department, including 
                the Armed Forces, and such other departments and 
                agencies of the Federal Government as the Secretary 
                determines appropriate.
                    ``(C) Plans for allocating the resources of the 
                Department to ensure such resources are focused on 
                quantum information science technologies with the 
                potential to solve operational challenges.
                    ``(D) Identification of quantum information science 
                technologies that--
                            ``(i) have critical defense-specific 
                        applications;
                            ``(ii) cannot be adapted from commercially 
                        available quantum information science 
                        technology; and
                            ``(iii) are unlikely to be pursued or 
                        accelerated by industry because of limited 
                        commercial value.
                    ``(E) Plans for supporting the development of 
                capabilities identified under subparagraph (D).
                    ``(F) Plans to help strengthen the quantum 
                information science supply chain domestically and among 
                trusted allies and against untrusted adversaries, 
                including through an assessment of--
                            ``(i) any associated strengths, weaknesses, 
                        opportunities and threats; and
                            ``(ii) critical components, suppliers, and 
                        single points of failure.
            ``(3) Report to congress.--Not later than one year after 
        the date of the enactment of the Defense Quantum Acceleration 
        Act of 2024, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
        that includes the plan developed under paragraph (1).
    ``(d) Commercial Security Strategy.--The Secretary shall adopt a 
comprehensive security strategy for commercially developed capabilities 
based on the guide utilized in the Underexplored Systems for Utility-
Scale Quantum Computing program of the Defense Advanced Research 
Projects Agency.
    ``(e) National Security Quantum Information Science Adoption 
Acceleration Testbed.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary 
        of Energy, shall establish a national defense quantum 
        information science joint center of excellence (referred to in 
        this subsection as the `Center').
            ``(2) Organization.--The Center shall be operated by the 
        Secretary and shall include participation from at least the 
        following organizations:
                    ``(A) One or more research laboratories of the 
                Armed Forces.
                    ``(B) A National Laboratory (as defined in section 
                2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)).
                    ``(C) A federally funded research and development 
                center or a university-affiliated research center.
                    ``(D) Quantum information science companies.
            ``(3) Location.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish 
        the Center at a location in the United States that is 
        reasonably accessible to each organization described in 
        paragraph (2).
            ``(4) Activities.--The Center shall carry out the following 
        activities:
                    ``(A) Facilitate quantum information science 
                technology transition and workforce development 
                activities.
                    ``(B) Conduct outreach to enhance industry and 
                academia's understanding of and contribution to 
                national security quantum information science 
                technology use cases and current operational challenges 
                faced by the Department.
                    ``(C) Prototype quantum information science 
                technologies, with priority given to the prototyping 
                and transition of quantum information science-enabled 
                position, navigation, and timing efforts and quantum 
                sensors at technology readiness level six or higher.
                    ``(D) Integrate the prototyping activities under 
                subparagraph (C) with the needs of the unified 
                combatant commands.
                    ``(E) Accelerate the transition of advanced quantum 
                information science technology from the research and 
                development phase into operational use.
                    ``(F) Expand the quantum information science 
                workforce of the United States and the quantum 
                information science workforces of nations that are 
                allies and partners of the United States.
            ``(5) Contract authority.--The Secretary may award grants 
        and enter into contracts and other agreements, on a competitive 
        basis, to support the activities of the Center.
            ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $20,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
    ``(f) Research Opportunities and Workforce Planning.--
            ``(1) Enhancement of research opportunities.--Not later 
        than one year after the date of the enactment of Defense 
        Quantum Acceleration Act of 2024, the Secretary shall seek to 
        increase opportunities for the study of quantum information 
        science within--
                    ``(A) the military service academies.
                    ``(B) the Reserve Officers' Training Corps; and
                    ``(C) other institutions and programs of the 
                Department and the Armed Forces that provide 
                postsecondary and graduate level education.
            ``(2) Standard operating procedures.--The Secretary shall 
        direct the chief of each Armed Force, in consultation with the 
        heads of the research laboratories under the jurisdiction of 
        such Armed Force--
                    ``(A) to adopt internal standard operating 
                procedures for quantum information science workforce 
                development to monitor and evaluate progress toward 
                human capital goals and human capital programmatic 
                results; and
                    ``(B) to involve top management, employees, and 
                other stakeholders in quantum information science 
                workforce planning by--
                            ``(i) developing and implementing an 
                        enterprise-wide strategic quantum workforce 
                        plan; and
                            ``(ii) communicating quantum workforce 
                        goals, initiatives, and metrics for evaluating 
                        success throughout each laboratory.
    ``(g) Budget Review.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, acting through the 
        Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), require the 
        Secretaries of the military departments and the heads of the 
        Defense Agencies with responsibilities associated with any 
        quantum information science activity to transmit the proposed 
        budget for such activities for a fiscal year and for the period 
        covered by the future-years defense program submitted to 
        Congress under section 221 of this title for that fiscal year 
        to the Principal Quantum Advisor for review before submitting 
        the proposed budget to the Under Secretary of Defense 
        (Comptroller).
            ``(2) Report to secretary.--The Principal Quantum Advisor 
        shall review each proposed budget transmitted, and, not later 
        than January 31 of the year preceding the fiscal year for which 
        the budget is proposed, shall submit to the Secretary a report 
        containing the comments of the Principal Quantum Advisor with 
        respect to all such proposed budgets, together with the 
        certification of the Principal Quantum Advisor regarding 
        whether each proposed budget is adequate.
            ``(3) Report to congress.--Not later than March 31 of each 
        year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a 
        report specifying each proposed budget that the Principal 
        Quantum Advisor did not certify to be adequate. The report of 
        the Secretary shall include the following matters:
                    ``(A) A discussion of the actions that the 
                Secretary proposes to take, together with any 
                recommended legislation that the Secretary considers 
                appropriate, to address the inadequacy of the proposed 
                budgets specified in the report.
                    ``(B) Any additional comments that the Secretary 
                considers appropriate regarding the inadequacy of the 
                proposed budgets.
    ``(h) Definitions.--In this section;
            ``(1) The term `Five Eyes countries' means the following:
                    ``(A) Australia.
                    ``(B) Canada.
                    ``(C) New Zealand.
                    ``(D) The United Kingdom.
                    ``(E) The United States.
            ``(2) The term `quantum information science' means the use 
        of the laws of quantum physics for the storage, transmission, 
        manipulation, computing, or measurement of information.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 301 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 4001 the following new item:

``4002. Joint quantum information science defense transition 
                            activities.''.
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