Senate Bill Would Extend National Quantum Initiative and Expand Its Activities

A bipartisan group of United States senators introduced a bill Thursday (Jan. 8) that would extend the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) by five years and expand its activities.

The NQI was enacted in 2018 and has supported the U.S. quantum ecosystem, the emergence of dozens of venture-backed quantum startups and the growth of a broader national industry that spans quantum computing, networking and sensing, according to a press release issued Thursday by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation .

Quantum computing harnesses the properties of quantum mechanics to perform complex calculations at unprecedented speeds.

Currently, the authorization for the NQI is set to expire in December 2029, per the Thursday press release.

The newly introduced bill, the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026 , would sustain federal investment in the initiative and provide a pathway for it to move beyond basic research, according to the release.

In addition to extending the NQI to December 2034, the bill would require the White House to develop an international quantum cooperation strategy, create new prize challenges to accelerate the development of quantum applications and algorithms, and direct the Secretary of Commerce to submit a plan to strengthen quantum supply chain resilience, the release said.

The bill would also establish as many as three new National Institute of Science and Technology quantum centers, create five new National Science Foundation Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education, and authorize NASA quantum research and development activities, per the release.

Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, said in the release that quantum technology is “a game changer” when it comes to scientific breakthroughs and that federal investment is vital to accelerate quantum innovation and practical applications.

“By investing in workforce development, promoting international cooperation with trusted allies and supporting resilient domestic supply chains, the National Quantum Initiative will position the United States to drive innovation, benefit from economic growth and create high-skilled jobs,” Cantwell said in the release.

Hartmut Neven , founder and lead of Google ’s Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab , said in the release, speaking of the NQI: “Since 2018, the initiative has secured U.S. quantum leadership through essential federal investment in R&D and the STEM workforce.”

Fred Humphries , corporate vice president of U.S. government affairs for Microsoft , said in the release that the bill is “a vital step in maintaining U.S. leadership in quantum information science.”