[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 200 (Wednesday, November 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8352-S8353]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4734. Ms. HASSAN (for herself and Mr. Thune) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr. 
Reed and intended to be proposed to the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place in title II, insert the 
     following:

     SEC. 2__. APPLICATION OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE TALENT EXCHANGE 
                   PROGRAMS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO 
                   QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY 
                   RESEARCH.

       In carrying out section 1599g of title 10, United States 
     Code, the Secretary of Defense may establish public-private 
     exchange programs, each with up to 10 program participants, 
     focused on private sector entities working on quantum 
     information sciences and technology research applications.

     SEC. 2__. BRIEFING ON SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND RESEARCH FOR 
                   TRANSFORMATION (SMART) DEFENSE EDUCATION 
                   PROGRAM.

       Not later than three years after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide Congress 
     with a briefing on participation and use of the program under 
     section 2192a of title 10, United States Code, as amended by 
     this subsection, with a particular focus on levels of 
     interest from students engaged in studying quantum fields.

     SEC. 2__. IMPROVEMENTS TO DEFENSE QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE 
                   AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Fellowship Program Authorized.--Section 234 of the John 
     S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2019 (Public Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new 
     subsection (f):
       ``(f) Fellowships.--
       ``(1) Program authorized.--In carrying out the program 
     required by subsection (a) and subject to the availability of 
     appropriations to carry out this subsection, the Secretary 
     may carry out a program of fellowships in quantum information 
     science and technology research and development for 
     individuals who have a graduate or post-graduate degree.
       ``(2) Equal access.--In carrying out the program under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary may establish procedures to 
     ensure that minority, geographically diverse, and 
     economically disadvantaged students have equal access to 
     fellowship opportunities under such program.''.
       (b) Multidisciplinary Partnerships With Universities.--Such 
     section is further amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (g), as redesignated by 
     subsection (a)(1), as subsection (h); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (f), as added by 
     subsection (a)(2), the following new subsection (g):
       ``(g) Multidisciplinary Partnerships With Universities.--In 
     carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary 
     of Defense may develop partnerships with universities to 
     enable students to engage in multidisciplinary courses of 
     study.''.
       (c) Comptroller General of the United States Assessment of 
     Program.--
       (1) Assessment and briefing.--Not later than 180 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller 
     General of the United States shall--
       (A) commence an assessment of the program carried out under 
     section 234 of the

[[Page S8353]]

     John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
     Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note), as 
     amended by this section, with consideration of the report 
     submitted under subsection (h) of such section (as 
     redesignated by subsection (b)(2) of this section); and
       (B) provide the congressional defense committees a briefing 
     on the preliminary findings of the Comptroller General with 
     respect to such program.
       (2) Final report.--At a date agreed to by the Comptroller 
     General and the congressional defense committees at the 
     briefing provided pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), the 
     Comptroller General shall submit to the congressional defense 
     committees a final report with the findings of the 
     Comptroller General with respect to the assessment conducted 
     under paragraph (1)(A).
                                 ______