APS Letter of Support for the National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA) Reauthorization

The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker of the House
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
House Minority Leader
H-204, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515 

Dear Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jeffries,

On behalf of the more than 50,000 members of the American Physical Society (APS) — the largest physics membership organization in the United States — I am writing to express our support for the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act (H.R.6213). We thank Representative Lucas and the 31 cosponsors of the bill for their leadership on this issue and are encouraged by the bipartisan support for this critical research area. The reauthorization, which builds on the achievements of the 2018 National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA), is vital to maintaining the pace of U.S. quantum information science (QIS) research and technology development in the face of increasing global investment and competition.

The 2018 NQIA resulted in 14 quantum research centers and bolstered core research programs for individual investigators, teams, hubs, and center-scale efforts, supported by NSF, DOE, NIST, NASA, DOD, & NSA. The investments authorized by the NQIA have resulted in more than 2,000 R&D grants engaging over 2,000 scientists and engineers from over 260 different institutions in 48 states, in addition to training more than 4,000 graduate students. The core programs and work at quantum research centers have pushed the frontiers of quantum research, built a foundation for technology development, and promoted training opportunities for a quantum-ready workforce.

The reauthorization legislation would expand on the successes of the 2018 bill. It will not only continue to support QIS fundamental research and technology development, but also contains crucial provisions to grow a workforce fluent in quantum information sciences and build a bridge toward technology commercialization. The reauthorization would begin to address infrastructure needs, including reliable access to components for quantum systems and increasing and modernizing laboratory space for leading-edge research and development. Improving infrastructure is also a necessary component of supporting a quantum-capable workforce.

APS is especially supportive of provisions that would grow and diversify the U.S. QIS education and workforce development efforts, which are paramount for building a sustainable quantum industry in the United States. Through programs such as National Q-12 Education Partnership, which launched under the 2018 Act, hundreds of educators nationwide have been engaged, translating to tens of thousands of students exposed to quantum-readiness curricula. Sustained federal funding is needed to continue developing a domestic pool of quantum talent and preparing students for a future shaped by quantum technology.

Emerging technologies with the potential to radically reshape society, such as artificial intelligence, will also be tied to quantum computing technologies, making investment in QIS research and workforce development critical. In the last few years, foreign competition in the quantum field has surged, including major investment by China. The reauthorization will direct the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a strategy for carrying out cooperative quantum research efforts with allies of the United States to bolster competitiveness in the global arena.

APS supports the reaffirmation of the importance of fundamental research, technology maturation, and workforce development outlined in the provisions of the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization. We appreciate the bipartisan support Congress has provided to the physics community engaged in these areas of research and education, and hope you will continue to support this important and exciting research and technology frontier. If you have questions or would like to further discuss, please do not hesitate to contact APS Director of Public Affairs Mark Elsesser (elsesser@aps.org; 202.846.8121).

Sincerely,