U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Steve Daines (R-MT) have introduced this bill in the 119th U.S. Congress to advance the funding for quantum technology research, development, workforce development, demonstration, and commercialization in the United States. Additional cosponsors of this bipartisan bill include U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Todd Young (R-IN). The proposed funding would exceed $2.5 billion for U.S. fiscal years 2026-2030.

Key provisions of the bill would include the following:

  • Key Provisions:
    • Funding Authorization: Proposes over $2.5 billion in funding for quantum research and development over the next five years, significantly exceeding the $625 million allocated by the now-expired National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018.
    • Expansion of Quantum R&D: Seeks to reauthorize and expand quantum research and development across the DOE until 2030, building upon the progress made by the DOE’s five national research centers.
    • Supply Chain and Commercialization: Addresses potential challenges to the quantum supply chain and commercialization, aiming to bolster the domestic supply of materials and technologies necessary for a robust manufacturing base and workforce.
    • Interagency Coordination: Enhances coordination among agencies and industries in the quantum space to facilitate the development and demonstration of quantum technologies.
    • Workforce Development: Establishes new programs to train and equip workers for quantum research and development and commercial ecosystems, focusing on increasing participation from underrepresented groups.

The funding for the program is broken into five different sections listed below along with the estimated funding over the five year period:

  • DOE Quantum Information Science Research Program – $775 Million
  • DOE Quantum Instrumentation and Foundry Program – $250 Million
  • National Quantum Information Science Research Centers – $875 Million
  • DOE Quantum Network Infrastructure Research and Development Program – $500 Million
  • DOE Quantum User Expansion for Science and Technology Program – $191 Million

This proposed bill is very similar to the Department of Energy Quantum Leadership Act of 2024 which was submitted to the 118th Congress in August 2024 and never passed. The biggest difference is that this new bill covers fiscal years 2026-2030 instead of fiscal years 2025-2029 in the 2024 bill.

Senator Dubin has great interest in advancing quantum research funding due to the presence in Illinois of the Argonne National Laboratory and the Fermi National Laboratory, significant quantum research taking place at Illinois universities, and the establishment of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park with recently announced tenants including PsiQuantum, IBM’s National Quantum Algorithm Center, and DARPA’s Illinois Quantum Proving Ground. Senator Daines is interested in fostering quantum innovation in order to strengthen our national security, create Montana jobs, and accelerate quantum research projects.

Additional information about this new bill can be seen in a press release issued by Senator Dick Durbin’s office here, a one page summary of the bill here, and the bill’s full text here.

February 15, 2025

Print Friendly, PDF & Email