WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve coordination between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) on activities carried out under the National Quantum Initiative Program.

“Tennessee is home to quantum applications that have become critical as our nation competes on the global stage,” said Senator Blackburn. “This bill builds upon my work to boost the public-private partnership for quantum development. Improving coordination at the national level will further equip our quantum communities, like Chattanooga, to make progress in critical sectors, including workforce development and supply chain management.”

“Making strategic investments in manufacturing and the technologies of tomorrow is critical for ensuring that the United States remains a world leader on technologies like quantum that will impact our economy and national security for years to come,” said Senator Peters. “This bipartisan legislation would take steps to build on federal efforts to understand and prepare for quantum technology, improve coordination of quantum research, and strengthen our domestic manufacturing.”

National & Tennessee Support For Blackburn & Peters’ Bill:

“The success of the U.S. advancement of quantum technology hinges on collaboration between federal agencies and industry, which is providing breakthrough innovations,” said Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO, D-Wave. “Senator Blackburn’s legislation rightly calls for the Department of Energy and National Science Foundation to include all quantum technologies in future activities and research – including quantum annealing, which is available now. Today’s quantum technology can provide solutions for public sector optimization challenges, such as infrastructure development, emergency response planning, and electrical grid resilience."

“As America’s first purpose-built resource for moving quantum technologies out of the lab and into commercial application, EPB Quantum Network is filling a missing link in our nation’s quantum competitiveness,” said David Wade, President & CEO, EPB of Chattanooga. “Senator Blackburn’s legislation further paves the path for commercializing quantum technologies in the U.S. by providing resources for a comprehensive economic ecosystem including R&D, workforce preparation, end-to-end manufacturing and supply chain strategy.”

“We appreciate Senator Blackburn’s foresight in including provisions for quantum manufacturing and workforce preparation,” said Rebecca Ashford, President, Chattanooga State. “We are proud to be a part of Chattanooga’s community-wide effort to build out a full-blown quantum ecology with education, workforce preparation, and business support. Senator Blackburn’s legislation recognizes the need to further extend these efforts to focus on quantum manufacturing and supply chain for these new technologies while providing additional workforce development resources.”

Background:

• This bill would:

• Establish a liaison between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) for activities related to quantum development;
• Express a Sense of Congress that activities and research carried out by DOE and NSF should include all quantum information science technologies, as well as critical quantum-enabling technologies;
• Establish a Manufacturing USA Institute for Quantum Manufacturing; and
• Present studies to assess progress or any impediments under the National Quantum Initiative Program.

• Earlier this year, Senator Blackburn introduced the bipartisan Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act to establish a public-private partnership for near-term quantum application development and acceleration.

Click here for bill text.