Sec. 12. National Institute of Standards and Technology activities and quantum consortium

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Section 201 of the National Quantum Initiative Act ( 15 U.S.C. 8831 ) is amended— in subsection (a)— in paragraph (1), by striking science and technology and inserting science, engineering, and technology ; in paragraph (2)— by inserting attract, educate, and before train ; and by striking science and technology and inserting science, engineering, and technology ; by amending paragraph

(3)to read as follows: shall carry out research to facilitate the development and standardization, as appropriate, of quantum cryptography, post-quantum cryptography (as such term is defined in section 3 of the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act ( 6 U.S.C. 1526 note; Public Law 117–260 )), and practices to replace cryptographic keys or algorithms with minimal disruption to current applications and systems; ; by amending paragraph

(4)to read as follows: shall carry out research, development, and demonstration projects, as appropriate, to facilitate the development of quantum applications, including research on quantum supply chain enabling technologies, such as lasers, cryogenics, and other supporting technologies; ; by redesignating paragraphs (5), (6), and

(7)as paragraphs (8), (9), and (11), respectively; by inserting the following after paragraph

(4)the following: shall carry out, in coordination with the Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, research to support the measurement of comparative performance and progress of quantum technologies; shall promote United States participation in international standards organizations related to quantum information science, engineering, and technology; shall establish or expand partnerships with the public sector and private sector— to accelerate the development of domestic quantum supply chain and supply chain-supporting technologies; to reduce quantum supply chain vulnerabilities; and to avoid offshoring to, or dependence on, countries of concern for critical components of capabilities in the quantum supply chain; ; in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by striking infrastructure and inserting , communications, sensing, and computing ; in paragraph (9), as so redesignated— by inserting nonprofit research organizations, after universities, ; and by striking and engineering; and and inserting , engineering, and technology and expanding the domestic STEM workforce; ; and by inserting after paragraph (9), as so redesignated, the following: shall establish such infrastructure as is necessary to carry out title II; and ; in subsection (b)— in paragraph (1)— by striking future and inserting research ; and by striking science and technology and inserting science, engineering, and technology ; in paragraph (2)— by amending subparagraph

(A)to read as follows: to gather and assess information on the quantum industry to address the needs identified in paragraph (1); ; and by striking subparagraphs

(B)and

(C)and inserting the following new subparagraphs: to provide recommendations regarding how the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Program, and other Federal agencies, as appropriate, can address the gaps in the research necessary to meet the needs identified in paragraph

(1)and accelerate real-world uses of quantum information science, engineering, and technology; to identify enabling technologies and the relevant supply chain essential to foster research and industrial competitiveness in quantum information science, engineering, and technology, and communicate findings to Federal agencies and other domestic and international stakeholders; and to assess and identify key areas for establishing, expanding, or developing international partnerships that will meet the needs identified in paragraph (1). ; in paragraph (3)— by striking Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the and inserting The ; and by inserting periodically, but not less frequently than once every five years, after shall ; and by adding at the end the following new paragraph: It is the sense of Congress that, as may be appropriate, Federal agencies that are involved in the transition or translation of research results to practical quantum applications or that have a mission that could benefit from the development of quantum technologies, should engage with the consortium to inform and accelerate progress in such areas. ; and by striking subsection

(c)and inserting the following new subsections: The Secretary of Commerce shall carry out the following activities: Assess, map, and model supply chains for quantum networking, quantum computing, quantum communications, quantum simulation, and quantum sensing technologies and applications. Identify current and future high-priority gaps and vulnerabilities in quantum supply chains, such as— single points of failure, sole source, consolidated manufacturing, or where there are limited United States and partner national suppliers; and critical components, elements, materials, equipment, and infrastructure. Identify potential supply chain shocks to the quantum supply chain that may disrupt, strain, or eliminate the supply chain. Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026 , the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Energy shall jointly— complete a study documenting the critical quantum supply chains and identified high-priority gaps and vulnerabilities; and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the findings with respect to the study completed pursuant to subparagraph (A). Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026 , the Secretary of Commerce shall, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, the Director of the National Science Foundation, the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and the heads of such other Federal agencies as the Secretary of Commerce considers relevant, develop and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress specific recommendations for legislative or administrative action to mitigate harm to quantum supply chains. Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2026 , the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a plan identifying legislative or administrative opportunities to strengthen supply chains and build capacity. The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Director of the National Science Foundation, promote, establish, and support international quantum information science, engineering, and technology research, metrology research, and standardization, as appropriate, to enhance international cooperation, meet United States commitments, and support United States engagement in international voluntary standards for quantum information science, engineering, and technology. In carrying out this section, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall ensure alignment with the National Quantum Information Science Strategy and the U.S. Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology, or successor strategies. None of the funds made available under this subsection may be obligated or expended to an institution of higher education that maintains a contract or agreement between such institution and a Confucius Institute (as defined in section 10339A of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 19039 )) or any successor of a Confucius Institute. None of the funds made available under this subsection may be obligated or expended to promote, establish, or finance quantum research activities between a United States entity and a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern, including the entity’s subsidiaries, except such restriction shall not apply to participation by award recipients in consensus-based international standardization activities. In this subsection, the term post-quantum cryptography has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act ( Public Law 117–260 ; 6 U.S.C. 1526 note). The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, the heads of Sector Risk Management Agencies (as such term is defined in section 2200 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 650 )), and private sector entities, as the Director considers appropriate, promote the voluntary development, adoption, and deployment of voluntary standards relating to post-quantum cryptography, including by— disseminating and making publicly available guidelines and resources to help organizations adopt and deploy standards relating to post-quantum cryptography and minimize disruptions to current applications and systems caused by cryptographic updates; providing technical assistance, as practicable, to entities that are at high risk of quantum cryptoanalytic attacks, such as entities determined to be critical infrastructure (as such term is defined in section 1016(e) of Public Law 107–56 ( 42 U.S.C. 5195c(e) )) or digital infrastructure providers; and conducting such other activities as determined necessary by the Director to promote the development, adoption, and deployment across the United States of standards relating to post-quantum cryptography. Subject to the availability of appropriations and after the date on which the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology has issued voluntary standards relating to post-quantum cryptography, the Director may establish a program to identify and provide technical assistance through the award of grants to entities that are at high risk of quantum cryptoanalytic attacks, including by granting funds for the adoption of such standards and the remediation of quantum-related vulnerabilities. Grants awarded to entities under this paragraph may be used to cover reasonable costs, up to a specified amount established by the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, for activities to adopt standards relating to post-quantum cryptography and remediate quantum-related vulnerabilities. The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology may develop, and periodically update, guidance, including relating to eligibility, application disclosure requirements, grant amount and duration, and any additional requirements regarding the award of grants under this paragraph. If the program described in this paragraph is established, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall consult with the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security, the heads of other Sector Risk Management Agencies, and appropriate representatives of private sector entities, including nonprofit organizations, to share information regarding the grant program under this paragraph and guidance developed and updated under subparagraph (C). There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to carry out this section $85,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Amounts made available pursuant to paragraph

(1)for each of fiscal years 2026 and 2027 shall be derived from amounts authorized to be appropriated for the National Institute of Standards and Technology pursuant to section 10211 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act ( Public Law 117–167 ) for scientific and technical research and services laboratory activities. .

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