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Washington, D.C. - Today, a landmark bill led by Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act is a bipartisan effort to accelerate research and development in quantum science by making grants available for universities and nonprofit organizations to upgrade their facilities and improve coordination with national labs.

“Leading the world in quantum research will have huge implications for America’s economy and national security,” said Rep. Baird. “This legislation will elevate research facilities nationwide and facilitate cooperation that will supercharge the industry. I’m incredibly excited to have such broad support for this bill in Committee, and I’m confident we will enjoy similar consensus on the House floor.”

“I am deeply proud that my bipartisan bill, the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act, unanimously passed out of committee today,” said Rep. Salinas. “Quantum science has the potential to change lives for the better and vastly improve our communications capabilities. Investing in more research and building a stronger quantum workforce will allow us to fully harness the benefits of these technologies. I am grateful to Congressman Baird and my colleagues on the Committee for their support, and I will continue working to get this legislation to the finish line.”

Background:

In 2018, President Trump signed the National Quantum Initiative Act to accelerate research and development in quantum science and computing. This law authorized significant R&D development projects at several federal agencies, especially the National Science Foundation. However, this legislation did not make funds available for universities, start-ups, and private research facilities and failed to help such institutions coordinate with federal labs. This legislation will help American facilities upgrade their equipment while facilitating information sharing that will unlock innovations in quantum science.

Read the full text of the bill here.