QUANTUM for National Security Act of 2021
Bill: S.1197 | Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood (D-NH)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Quantum for Universal Advancement in Nationwide Technology Use and Modernization for National Security Act of 2021 or the QUANTUM for National Security Act of 2021
This bill addresses quantum science research and its role in national security through the Department of Defense (DOD).
For purposes of the public-private talent exchange program, DOD must ensure there are exchanges of personnel that are working on the modernization priorities of DOD, including quantum science and technology research.
Among other requirements, DOD must
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) must assess the National Quantum Initiative Program and report on its findings. Additionally, the GAO must brief Congress on its assessment of the quantum information fellowship program established by this bill.
The President must establish, through the National Science and Technology Council, a temporary Subcommittee on the Economic and Security Implications of Quantum Science.
The National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee must include defense researchers and ensure the integration of DOD in committee actions and programs.

To amend title 10, United States Code, to apply public-private talent 
 exchange programs in the Department of Defense to quantum information 
   sciences and technology research, to increase coordination across 
  agencies and emphasize opportunities in the Department for quantum 
 information sciences and technology research, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Quantum for Universal Advancement in 
Nationwide Technology Use and Modernization for National Security Act 
of 2021'' or the ``QUANTUM for National Security Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. APPLICATION OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE TALENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMS IN THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCES AND 
              TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH.

    (a) Quantum Science and Technology Research as a Modernization 
Priority.--Section 1102(b)(1) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 
116-283) is amended by inserting ``, including quantum science and 
technology research'' after ``modernization priorities of the 
Department of Defense''.
    (b) Establishment of Public-Private Exchange Programs.--In carrying 
out section 1599g of title 10, United States Code, the Secretary of 
Defense shall seek to achieve, in the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, the 
establishment of public-private exchange programs, comparable to the 
Air Force Education with Industry Program, each with up to 10 program 
participants, focused on private sector entities working on quantum 
information sciences and technology research applications.
    (c) Establishment of Program Billet Office.--The Secretary shall 
establish a public-private exchange program billet office to 
temporarily hold billets for civilian employees who participate in 
programs described in such section, to ensure that participating 
Department of Defense offices are able to retain their staffing levels 
during the period of participation.

SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND RESEARCH FOR 
              TRANSFORMATION (SMART) DEFENSE EDUCATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Pilot Subprogram.--Section 2192a of title 10, United States 
Code, as amended by section 242 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 
116-283), is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (h) as 
        subsections (c) through (i);
            (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(b) Requirement for Pilot Subprogram.--(1) As a subprogram of the 
program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall carry out 
a pilot program to be known as the `National Security Pipeline Pilot 
Program' (referred to in this section as the `Pilot Program') under 
which the Secretary shall seek to enter into partnerships with 
minority-serving institutions to diversify the participants in the 
program under subsection (a).
    ``(2) Under the Pilot Program, the Secretary of Defense shall--
            ``(A) provide an appropriate amount of financial assistance 
        under subsection (c) to an eligible individual;
            ``(B) provide such financial assistance to recipients in 
        conjunction with summer internship opportunities or other 
        meaningful temporary appointments within the Department; and
            ``(C) periodically evaluate the success of recruiting 
        individuals for scholarships under this subsection and on 
        hiring and retaining those individuals in the public sector 
        workforce.
    ``(3)(A) Not later than the date that is three years after the date 
of the enactment of the Quantum for Universal Advancement in Nationwide 
Technology Use and Modernization for National Security Act of 2021, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense 
committees a report on the Pilot Program.
    ``(B) The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include the 
following:
            ``(i) Identification of the following:
                    ``(I) The number of students participating in the 
                Pilot Program as of the date of the report.
                    ``(II) The fields of study pursued by such 
                students.
                    ``(III) The minority-serving institutions at which 
                such students are enrolled.
            ``(ii) An evaluation of the success of the Pilot Program in 
        recruiting individuals for scholarships under this section and 
        hiring and retaining those individuals in the public sector 
        workforce.
    ``(4) After the date that is five years after the date of the 
enactment of the Quantum for Universal Advancement in Nationwide 
Technology Use and Modernization for National Security Act of 2021, the 
Secretary shall terminate the Pilot Program or continue the Pilot 
Program as the Secretary considers appropriate.'';
            (3) in subsection (c)(1), as so redesignated--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``subsection 
                (g)'' and inserting ``subsection (h)''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``subsection 
                (c)'' and inserting ``subsection (d)''; and
            (4) by amending subsection (i), as so redesignated, to read 
        as follows:
    ``(i) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `eligible individual' means an individual 
        who--
                    ``(A) is pursuing an associate's degree, 
                undergraduate degree, or advanced degree; and
                    ``(B) is--
                            ``(i) a member of a group that is 
                        underrepresented in the fields of science and 
                        engineering, including women; or
                            ``(ii) is enrolled in a degree-program at a 
                        minority-serving institution.
            ``(2) The term `institution of higher education' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
            ``(3) The term `minority-serving institution' means an 
        institution of higher education that is eligible under section 
        371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1067q(a)).''.
    (b) Additional Modifications.--Such section 2192a is further 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (d), as redesignated by subsection 
        (a)(1), by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
    ``(4) The Secretary shall, to the degree the Secretary considers 
practicable and appropriate, allow a person receiving financial 
assistance under this section to delay completion of the person's 
service obligation under this section until the person has completed--
            ``(A) the terminal degree program of education that is 
        typically expected in the field the person is pursuing; or
            ``(B) a post-graduate fellowship at a non-Department 
        laboratory.
    ``(5) In employing participants during the period of obligated 
service, the Secretary shall strive to ensure that participants are 
compensated, to the extent practicable, at a rate that is comparable to 
the rate of compensation for employment in a similar position in the 
private sector.'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (e) through (i), as 
        redesignated by subsection (a)(1), as subsections (f) through 
        (j), respectively;
            (3) in subsection (h), as so redesignated--
                    (A) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary of 
                Defense shall''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
    ``(2)(A) The Secretary of Defense shall establish or designate an 
organization within the Department of Defense which shall have primary 
responsibility for building cohesion and collaboration across the 
various scholarship and employment programs of the Department.
    ``(B) The organization described in subparagraph (A) shall have the 
following duties--
            ``(i) establish an interconnected network and database 
        across the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
        scholarship and employment programs of the Department, 
        including, at a minimum the SMART Defense Education Program, 
        the Defense Civilian Training Corps, the National Defense 
        Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship, the Army AEOP 
        apprenticeship program, and the Consortium Research Fellows 
        Program;
            ``(ii) aid in matching scholarships to individuals pursuing 
        courses of study in in-demand skill areas; and
            ``(iii) build a network of program participants, past, 
        present, and future whom DOD departments can draw on to fill 
        skills gaps.
    ``(C) On an annual basis, the organization described in 
subparagraph (A) shall publish, on a publicly accessible website of the 
Department of Defense, an annual report on the workforce requirements 
and expected future needs of the civilian workforce of the Department 
of Defense.'';
            (4) by redesignating subsection (j), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (2), as subsection (k); and
            (5) by inserting after subsection (i), as redesignated by 
        paragraph (2), the following new subsection:
    ``(j) Special Rules.--(1) The Secretary shall strive, in each year 
of the program under this section and to the greatest extent feasible, 
to increase the number of applicants pursuing degrees in quantum 
sciences or a related field of study.
    ``(2) The Secretary shall strive to ensure that, in each year of 
the program under this section, at least one new graduate level 
participant is studying in an advanced quantum research field.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall consider emerging technologies, such as 
quantum computing and information sciences and artificial intelligence, 
as skills and disciplines that are critical to the national security 
functions of the Department of Defense.
    ``(4) The Secretary shall encourage increased participation in the 
program under this section by students studying relevant cross-
disciplinary educational tracks that touch on more than one area of 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
    ``(5) The Secretary shall treat optics, photonics, and quantum 
information sciences as disciplines eligible for the program under this 
section.''.
    (c) Report.--Not later than three years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to 
Congress a report on participation and use of the program under section 
2192a of title 10, United States Code, as amended by this subsection, 
with a particular focus on levels of interest from students engaged in 
studying quantum fields.

SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF DEFENSE TO AWARD 
              GRANTS TO SUPPORT SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
              MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.

    Section 2036(g)(2) of title 10, United States Code, as added by 
section 513 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283), is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (J) through (M) as 
        subparagraphs (K) through (N), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:
                    ``(J) quantum information sciences;''.

SEC. 5. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FELLOWSHIPS IN QUANTUM INFORMATION 
              SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    Section 234 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note), as 
amended by section 214 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283), is 
further amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new 
        subsection (f):
    ``(f) Fellowships.--
            ``(1) Program required.--In carrying out the program 
        required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall, pursuant to 
        another provision of law or through another graduate and 
        postdoctoral fellowship program that was in effect on the day 
        before the date of the enactment of the Quantum for Universal 
        Advancement in Nationwide Technology Use and Modernization for 
        National Security Act of 2021, such as the National Defense 
        Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program, carry out 
        a program of fellowships in quantum information science and 
        technology research and development for individuals who have 
        graduate or post-graduate degrees.
            ``(2) Guidelines.--The Secretary shall award fellowships 
        under the program required by paragraph (1) pursuant to 
        guidelines that the Secretary shall establish.
            ``(3) Reports.--Each recipient of a fellowship under the 
        program required by paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary 
        a report on the experience of the recipient coming from a 
        learning environment to a practical application of the 
        recipient's knowledge, in order to contribute to the overall 
        understanding of best practices in teaching and advising 
        students on courses of study in quantum information science and 
        technology research and development.
            ``(4) Equal access.--In carrying out the program required 
        by paragraph (1), the Secretary shall strive to ensure that 
        minority and economically disadvantaged students have equal 
        access to fellowships under such program.
            ``(5) Period.--A fellowship awarded under the program 
        required by paragraph (1) shall be for a period of not more 
        than three years.
            ``(6) Limitation.--Amounts made available to carry out the 
        program required by paragraph (1) may only be used for--
                    ``(A) the award of fellowships under such program; 
                and
                    ``(B) the administrative costs of carrying out such 
                program.''.

SEC. 6. IMPROVEMENTS TO DEFENSE QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE AND 
              TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    (a) Multidisciplinary Partnerships With Universities.--Section 234 
of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note), as amended by 
section 5, is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (f), as added by section 
        5, the following new subsection (g):
    ``(g) Multidisciplinary Partnerships With Universities.--In 
carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense 
shall endeavor to develop partnerships with universities that are 
focused on encouraging students to engage in multidisciplinary courses 
of study.''.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) funding research, development, and deployment of 
        quantum information sciences and quantum information science-
        related technologies and systems is a priority; and
            (2) it is especially critical that the United States 
        continue to prioritize such research, development, and 
        deployment in consideration of the significant investment made 
        by China in quantum information sciences.
    (c) Comptroller General of the United States Assessment of 
Program.--
            (1) Assessment and briefing.--Not later than 180 days after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
        of the United States shall--
                    (A) commence an assessment of the program carried 
                out under section 234 of the John S. McCain National 
                Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public 
                Law 115-232; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note), as amended by 
                section 5 and this section, with consideration of the 
                report submitted under subsection (h) of such section 
                (as redesignated by subsection (a)(1) of this section); 
                and
                    (B) provide the congressional defense committees a 
                briefing on the preliminary findings of the Comptroller 
                General with respect to such program.
            (2) Final report.--At a date agreed to by the Comptroller 
        General and the congressional defense committees at the 
        briefing provided pursuant to paragraph (1)(B), the Comptroller 
        General shall submit to the congressional defense committees a 
        final report with the findings of the Comptroller General with 
        respect to the assessment conducted under paragraph (1)(A).
            (3) Congressional defense committees defined.--In this 
        subsection, the term ``congressional defense committees'' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 101(a) of title 10, 
        United States Code.

SEC. 7. IMPROVEMENTS TO NATIONAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE PROGRAM.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the execution of the National Defense Strategy is 
        critical to the functions of the Federal participants of the 
        National Quantum Initiative Program; and
            (2) the success of the National Quantum Initiative Program 
        is necessary for the Department of Defense to carry out the 
        National Defense Strategy.
    (b) Department of Defense Participation in National Quantum 
Initiative Program.--
            (1) In general.--The National Quantum Initiative Act 
        (Public Law 115-368; 15 U.S.C. 8801 et seq.) is amended by 
        adding at the end the following new title:

          ``TITLE V--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE QUANTUM ACTIVITIES

``SEC. 501. DEFENSE QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH 
              AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    ``The quantum information science and technology research and 
development program carried out under section 234 of the John S. McCain 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 
115-232; 10 U.S.C. 2358 note) shall be treated as part of the National 
Quantum Initiative Program implemented under section 101(a) of this 
Act.

``SEC. 502. COORDINATION.

    ``The Secretary of Energy, the Director of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, and the Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall each coordinate with the Secretary of Defense in the 
efforts of the Secretary of Defense to conduct basic research to 
accelerate scientific breakthroughs in quantum information science and 
technology.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of contents is section 
        1(b) of such Act is amended by adding at the end the following:

          ``TITLE V--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE QUANTUM ACTIVITIES

``Sec. 501. Defense quantum information science and technology research 
                            and development program.
``Sec. 502. Coordination.''.
    (c) Assessment by Comptroller General of the United States of 
National Quantum Initiative Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General of the United 
        States shall--
                    (A) assess the National Quantum Initiative Program; 
                and
                    (B) submit to Congress a report on the findings of 
                the Comptroller General with respect to such 
                assessment.
            (2) Elements.--The assessment required by paragraph (1)(A) 
        shall cover the following:
                    (A) The effectiveness of the National Quantum 
                Initiative Program.
                    (B) Whether all of the programs, committees, and 
                centers required by the National Quantum Initiative Act 
                (15 U.S.C. 8801 et seq.) have been established.
                    (C) Whether the agencies, programs, committees, and 
                centers described in subparagraph (B) are effectively 
                collaborating together and conducting joint activities 
                where appropriate.
                    (D) Identification of inefficiencies or 
                duplications across the various programs of the 
                National Quantum Initiative Program.
    (d) Additional Improvements in Coordination.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of 
        Commerce acting through the Director of the National Institute 
        of Standards and Technology, the Director of the National 
        Science Foundation, and the heads of other Federal agencies 
        participating in the National Quantum Initiative Program shall 
        coordinate with each other and the heads of other relevant 
        Federal agencies, including the Secretary of Defense, to carry 
        out the goals of the National Quantum Initiative Program.
            (2) Subcommittee on the economic and security implications 
        of quantum science.--
                    (A) Establishment.--The President shall establish, 
                through the National Science and Technology Council, 
                the Subcommittee on the Economic and Security 
                Implications of Quantum Science (in this paragraph 
                referred to as the ``Subcommittee'').
                    (B) Membership.--
                            (i) Composition.--The Subcommittee shall be 
                        composed of members as follows:
                                    (I) One member appointed by the 
                                Director of the National Institute of 
                                Standards and Technology.
                                    (II) One member appointed by the 
                                Director of the National Science 
                                Foundation.
                                    (III) One member appointed by the 
                                Secretary of Energy.
                                    (IV) One member appointed by the 
                                Administrator of the National 
                                Aeronautics and Space Administration.
                                    (V) Three members appointed by the 
                                Secretary of Defense, of whom--
                                            (aa) one shall be a 
                                        representative of the Army;
                                            (bb) one shall be a 
                                        representative of the Navy; and
                                            (cc) one shall be a 
                                        representative of the Air 
                                        Force.
                                    (VI) One member appointed by the 
                                Director of the National Security 
                                Agency.
                                    (VII) One member appointed by the 
                                Director of National Intelligence.
                                    (VIII) One member appointed by the 
                                Director of the Office of Science and 
                                Technology Policy.
                                    (IX) Such other members as the 
                                President considers appropriate.
                            (ii) Requirement.--Each member of the 
                        Subcommittee shall be an employee of the 
                        Federal Government.
                    (C) Chairpersons.--The Director of the Office of 
                Science and Technology Policy, the Secretary of 
                Defense, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of 
                the National Security Agency shall jointly be 
                chairpersons of the Subcommittee.
                    (D) Duties.--The Subcommittee shall--
                            (i) coordinate with the National Science 
                        and Technology Council and its subcommittees to 
                        ensure that the economic and national security 
                        implications of basic research and development 
                        in quantum information science, along with 
                        other related technologies, are reviewed and 
                        planned for;
                            (ii) analyze economic and national security 
                        risks arising from research and development in 
                        such areas and make recommendations on how to 
                        mitigate those risks; and
                            (iii) review new programs for national 
                        security implications, when feasible, prior to 
                        public announcement.
                    (E) Report to congress.--Not later than 180 days 
                after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
                chairpersons of the Subcommittee shall submit to 
                Congress a report on the findings and assessments of 
                the Subcommittee regarding economic and national 
                security risks resulting from quantum information 
                science and technology research.
                    (F) Termination.--The Subcommittee shall terminate 
                on the later of the following:
                            (i) The date that is five years after the 
                        date of the enactment of this Act.
                            (ii) Such date as the Subcommittee 
                        determines appropriate.
            (3) Involvement of defense in national quantum initiative 
        advisory committee.--
                    (A) Qualifications.--Subsection (b) of section 104 
                of the National Quantum Initiative Act (Public Law 115-
                368; 15 U.S.C. 8814) is amended by striking ``and 
                Federal laboratories'' and inserting ``Federal 
                laboratories, and defense researchers''.
                    (B) Integration.--Such section is amended--
                            (i) by redesignating subsections (e) 
                        through (g) as subsection (f) through (h), 
                        respectively; and
                            (ii) by inserting after subsection (d) the 
                        following new subsection (e):
    ``(e) Integration of Department of Defense.--The Committee shall 
take such actions as may be necessary, including by modifying policies 
and procedures of the Committee, to ensure the full integration of the 
Department of Defense in activities and programs of the Committee.''.
            (4) Clarification of purpose of multidisciplinary centers 
        for quantum research and education.--Section 302(c) of the 
        National Quantum Initiative Act (Public Law 115-368; 15 U.S.C. 
        8842(c)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(4) encouraging workforce collaboration, both with 
        private industry and among Federal entities, including national 
        defense agencies.''.
            (5) Clarifications regarding national quantum information 
        science research centers.--
                    (A) Requirements.--Subsection (c) of section 402 of 
                the National Quantum Initiative Act (Public Law 115-
                368; 15 U.S.C. 8852) is amended by inserting ``the 
                national defense agencies,'' after ``industry,''.
                    (B) Coordination.--Subsection (d) of such section 
                is amended--
                            (i) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) 
                        as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and
                            (ii) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
                        following new paragraph (2):
            ``(2) other research entities of the Federal Government, 
        including research entities in the Department of Defense;''.
            (6) National quantum coordination office.--
                    (A) Collaboration when reporting to congress.--
                Section 102 of the National Quantum Initiative Act 
                (Public Law 115-368; 15 U.S.C. 8812) is amended--
                            (i) by redesignating subsection (c) as 
                        subsection (d); and
                            (ii) by inserting after subsection (b) the 
                        following new subsection (c):
    ``(c) Collaboration When Reporting to Congress.--The Coordination 
Office shall ensure that when participants in the National Quantum 
Initiative Program prepare and submit reports to Congress that they do 
so in collaboration with each other and all appropriate Federal 
civilian, defense, and intelligence research entities.''.
                    (B) Adjustments.--The National Quantum Coordination 
                Office may make such additional adjustments as it deems 
                necessary to ensure full integration of the Department 
                of Defense into the National Quantum Initiative 
                Program.
            (7) Reporting to additional committees of congress.--
        Paragraph (2) of section 2 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 8801) is 
        amended to read as follows:
            ``(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
                    ``(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation, the Committee on Armed Services, and 
                the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate; and
                    ``(B) the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the 
                Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the 
                Committee on Armed Services, and the Permanent Select 
                Committee on Intelligence of the House of 
                Representatives.''.
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