Key Takeaways
- •The committee favorably reported H.R. 8462, the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, to the House, aiming to modernize federal research and counter aggressive technological investments by China.
- •Rep. Randy Weber (R, TX-14) stated that the legislation builds on the 2018 law to move quantum technology from basic science toward real-world applications and commercialization.
- •Rep. Brian Babin (R, TX-36) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D, CA-18) agreed to finalize specific authorization levels before the bill reaches the floor to align with future budget requests.
- •Both parties supported the bill to maintain global leadership, though Rep. Keith Self (R, TX-3) withdrew an amendment that sought to remove language prioritizing underrepresented groups in STEM.
- •The legislation moves to the House floor to integrate NASA into the national strategy, strengthen domestic supply chains, and establish regional hubs for quantum innovation and workforce development.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The markup focused on the strategic necessity of reauthorizing the National Quantum Initiative to transition the United States from foundational quantum research to applied development and commercialization. This effort is framed as a critical response to aggressive investments by global competitors, particularly the People's Republic of China, which threaten American leadership in computing, national security, and economic competitiveness.
Key Testimony & Policy
The central legislation, H.R. 8462, the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, modernizes the 2018 framework by formally incorporating the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) into the national strategy. The bill integrates several bipartisan proposals, including the Leveraging Quantum Computing Act, the Quantum for Health Act (H.R. 8520), and the Support for Quantum Supply Chains Act (H.R. 3788). These provisions aim to apply quantum capabilities to healthcare, electric grid resilience, and domestic supply chain security.
The committee adopted several amendments to broaden the bill’s scope. Rep. Jay Obernolte (R, CA-23) introduced the Collaborative Venture for Quantum Application Development Acceleration Program to bridge the "valley of death" between laboratory discovery and market deployment. To address critical material shortages, Rep. Daniel Webster (R, FL-11) successfully added a provision to secure the domestic supply of Helium-3, which is essential for cooling quantum systems. Additionally, the committee emphasized the "software layer" of quantum technology, following recommendations from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission to ensure that software benchmarking and verification keep pace with hardware advancements.
Workforce development was a recurring theme, with the reauthorization of the Next Generation Quantum Leaders Pilot Program. This initiative, supported by Rep. Valerie Foushee (D, NC-4), seeks to build a talent pipeline from K-12 through advanced research. Other amendments included Rep. Gabe Amo’s (D, RI-1) proposal to include the "blue economy" and ocean science in quantum research priorities, and Rep. George Whitesides’ (D, CA-27) amendment to ensure NASA utilizes quantum sensing for Earth science and climate measurements.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
While the markup was largely bipartisan, a significant point of negotiation involved the absence of specific authorization levels. Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D, CA-18) expressed concern that the lack of defined funding could signal a lack of resolve to international competitors, though she agreed to move the policy forward while awaiting the administration’s FY 2027 budget request. Chairman Brian Babin (R, TX-36) committed to working on these levels before the bill reaches the House floor.
A brief partisan exchange occurred when Rep. Keith Self (R, TX-3) offered an amendment to strike language prioritizing "underrepresented groups" in quantum programs, arguing the term was ill-defined. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D, OH-13) and other Democrats countered that such language is vital for expanding the STEM workforce. Rep. Self ultimately withdrew the amendment to allow the bill to proceed. Similarly, Rep. Obernolte withdrew an amendment regarding post-quantum cryptography (PQC) procurement by the General Services Administration (GSA) after Ranking Member Lofgren raised a jurisdictional point of order, though both agreed on the urgency of the policy.
Organizations Mentioned
* **People's Republic of China (China):** Cited as the primary adversary outspending the U.S. in quantum R&D, specifically through a $138 billion emerging technology fund. * **National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):** Discussed regarding its role in setting post-quantum cryptography standards and managing the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C). * **Department of Energy (DOE):** Recognized for its national laboratories' work on high-performance computing and its new mandate for electric grid security research. * **National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):** Formally added to the National Quantum Initiative to apply quantum sensing to space and Earth science. * **International Business Machines Corporation (IBM):** Mentioned for its Quantum Hub at NC State and its partnership with the Cleveland Clinic to advance quantum applications in healthcare. * **National Science Foundation (NSF):** Highlighted for its role in workforce development and the National Q-12 Education Program. * **EPB of Chattanooga (EPB):** Praised for establishing a commercial-access quantum network in partnership with Vanderbilt University. * **General Services Administration (GSA):** Discussed in the context of federal procurement of encryption hardware and jurisdictional limits of the committee.
What's Next
H.R. 8462 was ordered favorably reported to the House. The committee leadership will continue negotiations to determine specific funding levels for the authorized programs before a full House vote. Members also indicated plans to address post-quantum cryptography procurement through other legislative channels to resolve jurisdictional hurdles.
Transcript
Okay. Good morning. The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology will now come to order. Pursuant to committee rule 2F, excuse me, without objection the chair is authorized to declare recesses of the committee at any time. Pursuant to committee rule 2F and house rule 11, recorded votes may be postponed. Today we meet to consider HR 8462, the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, and I now recognize myself for an opening statement. I would like to welcome everyone in this morning's full committee markup of a bill critical to the advancement of nearly every sector essential to America's future standing on the world stage, the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act. This legislation builds on the original 2018 law to modernize federal quantum research and development, strengthen coordination across agencies, and accelerate the transition of quantum technologies into real world applications. It also invests in workforce development, expands partnerships with allies, and supports a competitive domestic quantum industry. Excuse me, quantum technology is not a distant concept. It is a foundational capability that will shape the future of computing, communications, energy, and national security. From securing our communications network to enabling next generation materials and breakthroughs in energy systems, quantum innovation will define which nations lead and which will fall behind. The United States has long been a global leader in the theoretical science that underpins quantum technologies. But leadership in theory alone is not enough. Across the globe, our competitors are investing heavily in turning that science into real world capabilities. In particular, the Chinese Communist Party has identified quantum as a mission critical technology and is moving aggressively to deploy quantum systems across communications, sensing, and computing applications. If we fail to keep pace, the consequences will be significant. Quantum advancements have direct implications for cybersecurity, military readiness, and economic competitiveness. The nation that leads in quantum will help set the rules of the road for the next generation of technological innovation, and that's why this legislation takes a comprehensive approach to strengthening America's quantum ecosystem. It ensures federal research programs move beyond basic science to applied research, demonstration, and commercialization. It reinforces partnerships between government, industry, and academia, recognizing that innovation does not happen in silos. It also invests in the workforce needed to sustain long term leadership in this field. This bill reflects the breadth of this committee's jurisdiction. Quantum capabilities intersect directly with our work on space, energy, and advanced computing. And by formally incorporating NASA into the National Quantum Initiative, we are ensuring that space based research and applications are part of our broader strategy. At the Department of Energy and our national laboratories, quantum research is already playing a role in advancing high performance computing and next generation energy systems. These are not isolated efforts. They are part of a coordinated national strategy to maintain American leadership. Importantly, this legislation strengthens collaboration with our allies. In a global technology race, the United States is strongest when it leads a coalition of like minded nations. By promoting international partnerships, we can expand research capabilities, set high standards, and counter the influence of adversarial actors seeking to control these technologies to their advantage. I also want to take a moment to recognize the constructive conversations that I've had with our ranking member, Mrs. Lofgren, as we have worked through this legislation. In particular, we have agreed that authorization levels will be addressed once we get more detailed information from the administration's FY 27 budget request for quantum specific activities. This approach allows us to move forward on policy while ensuring funding decisions are made in the appropriate context and aligned with the ongoing appropriations process. And by doing so, we can help ensure that all agencies are properly funded to achieve their ambitious goals. At its core, this bill is about ensuring the United States remains the world's leading technological and economic power. It is about making the investments necessary today to secure our national security and our prosperity tomorrow. It also reflects the reality that leadership in emerging technologies like quantum is not guaranteed but must be earned and then sustained. I look forward to advancing this legislation today and welcome thoughtful amendments as we work together to ensure this legislation is as strong and effective as possible. And now I'd like to recognize the ranking member for five minutes for her opening statement.
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