S3597-119

What This Bill Does

The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act rewrites and extends federal quantum science policy. It updates definitions and purposes to emphasize research, development, education, workforce, economic, and security implications; updates the National Quantum Initiative Program, National Quantum Coordination Office, subcommittees, and advisory committee; requires an international quantum cooperation strategy; authorizes national quantum prize challenges; extends the initiative sunset; expands NIST quantum activities and creates NIST quantum centers; expands NSF quantum research, education, multidisciplinary centers, a QREW coordination hub, quantum testbeds, and research security; adds NSF post-quantum cryptography research; creates NASA quantum research and initiative authority with up to $25 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030; requires GAO review; reviews regulatory barriers; and sunsets the National Nanotechnology Program.

Who Benefits and How

Quantum researchers benefit from expanded NIST centers, NSF centers, testbeds, prize challenges, NASA activities, and interagency coordination. Quantum students and educators benefit from explicit workforce, education, reskilling, and QREW coordination hub provisions. Quantum technology companies benefit from testbeds, regulatory barrier review, standards work, and stronger federal coordination. NIST benefits from expanded quantum consortium duties and new quantum centers. NSF benefits from expanded research, education, cryptography, testbed, and workforce authorities. NASA benefits from dedicated quantum information science, engineering, and technology activities for space and aeronautics. Research security offices benefit from explicit direction to align quantum work with research security law.

Who Bears the Burden and How

OSTP and the National Quantum Coordination Office must update coordination, strategy, advisory, and international cooperation work. NIST must manage expanded quantum activities, centers, standards, and coordination obligations. NSF must administer expanded centers, education programs, workforce hubs, testbeds, cryptography research, and research-security rules. NASA must allocate up to $25 million per year, coordinate with other agencies, and manage quantum initiatives. GAO must review processes and reporting requirements. Federal agencies in the quantum program must coordinate prize challenges, research security, regulatory-barrier review, and program sunsets.

Key Provisions

• Updates National Quantum Initiative definitions, purposes, program coordination, advisory committees, and economic-security subcommittee duties.
• Requires an international quantum cooperation strategy.
• Authorizes national quantum prize challenges and extends the initiative sunset.
• Creates NIST quantum centers and expands NIST quantum activities.
• Expands NSF quantum research, education, multidisciplinary centers, QREW coordination, testbeds, post-quantum cryptography, and research security.
• Authorizes NASA quantum information science, engineering, and technology activities with up to $25 million per year from fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
• Requires GAO review, regulatory barrier review, and sunset treatment for the National Nanotechnology Program.