On Thursday, Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) will introduce legislation to reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative for five years, Axios reported, citing a bill summary.
The program is aimed at bolstering quantum research and development, which experts say could lead to scientific breakthroughs and keep the U.S. globally competitive, but Congress let it expire in 2023, the report added.
The bill would reauthorize programs at the Office of Science and Technology, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, the National Science Foundation, and NASA. It would establish new centers at some of the agencies, according to the report.
The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act would allocate $85M per year for five years for NIST.
The legislation would require OSTP to make an international research and development coordination strategy and direct the Commerce Secretary to file a plan to boost quantum supply chains, the report added.
“We need to ensure the United States has the talent and research capabilities required to lead the global tech competition and outcompete China,” said Young, the report noted.
The Government Accountability Office would be tasked with studying where excessive rules are hindering private sector and academic institutions from participating in the program.
“We urge Congress to quickly pass this measure and accelerate the research, workforce development, and public-private partnerships that will translate quantum innovation into real-world benefits for the American people,” said IBM’s (IBM) CEO Arvind Krishna, the report added.
IBM did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Seeking Alpha.