Advancing Quantum Manufacturing Act

Summary#

This bill would change the National Quantum Initiative Act to improve coordination of federal quantum activities and to support quantum manufacturing. It would require the Coordination Office to appoint a staff liaison between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to avoid unnecessary duplication. The Secretary of Commerce, through NIST and in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, must identify manufacturing capabilities and gaps, and establish or fund a Manufacturing USA institute focused on quantum computing, sensing, and communication. The institute must provide an end-to-end manufacturing ecosystem, design and test materials and devices, offer prototyping at research and commercial scale, support a resilient supply chain with emphasis on allies, and help develop a manufacturing workforce for quantum technologies. The bill also directs studies: the Office of Science and Technology Policy should seek an agreement with the National Academies to perform an independent study of progress under the National Quantum Initiative Program, and a NIST-convened consortium must study impediments to collaboration among research centers, industry, and academia and report findings to relevant congressional committees within 180 days. The required report must include an overview of current research, a funding breakdown for near-term applications by technology, and identification of potential risks.

What it means for you#

• If you work for DOE or NSF, the Coordination Office will appoint a liaison to improve coordination between the two agencies.
• If you are a researcher, manufacturer, or developer of quantum technologies, the bill directs creation or support of a Manufacturing USA institute that would offer design, fabrication, testing, and prototyping resources and workforce development opportunities.
• If you are in industry or the supply chain, the institute is directed to support a more resilient quantum supply chain and emphasize sourcing from allied partners.
• The bill requires independent studies and reports, so Congress will receive assessments of program progress, collaboration barriers, funding distribution, and risks.

Expenses#

The bill authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish or award financial assistance under existing NIST authority, but it does not include any cost estimates or specific funding amounts. No publicly available information on total costs or appropriations is provided in the text.

Proponents' View#

The bill includes a "sense of Congress" that activities and research under the National Quantum Initiative Program should, to the extent practicable, include a wide range of quantum information science and enabling technologies (for example, gate-based and annealing quantum computing, multiple qubit platforms, single-photon sources, lasers, cryogenics, and related electronics and materials). No additional proponent statements or arguments are included in the provided text.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opponents' views or official objections is provided in the text.