[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1346 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1346
To direct the Secretary of Defense to accelerate the implementation of
quantum information science technologies within the Department of
Defense, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 8, 2025
Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Ms. Hassan) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed
Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Defense to accelerate the implementation of
quantum information science technologies within the Department of
Defense, 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 ``Defense Quantum Acceleration Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. JOINT QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE DEFENSE TRANSITION
ACTIVITIES.
Chapter 301 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by
inserting after section 4001 the following new section:
``Sec. 4002. Joint quantum information science defense transition
activities
``(a) Activities Required.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish
a set of activities to accelerate the adoption and
implementation quantum information science technology within
the Department of Defense.
``(2) Elements.--Pursuant to the activities established
under paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the
Principal Quantum Advisor designated under subsection (b),
shall--
``(A) explore and identify quantum information
science technologies and use cases that--
``(i) have demonstrated value in advancing
the priorities and missions of the Department;
and
``(ii) may be applied to address
operational problems;
``(B) develop plans to transition such quantum
information science technologies from the research and
development phase to operational use within the
Department, including within each of the Armed Forces;
and
``(C) carry out such transition plans.
``(b) Designation of Principal Quantum Advisor.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of the Defense Quantum Acceleration Act of
2025, the Secretary of Defense shall designate a senior
official of the Department of Defense to serve as the Principal
Quantum Advisor for the Department.
``(2) Responsibilities.--The Principal Quantum Advisor
shall serve as the official within the Department of Defense
with principal responsibility for--
``(A) coordinating activities relating to the
accelerated demonstration and transition of quantum
information science technologies for applications
specific to operational challenges faced by the
Department;
``(B) coordinating, overseeing, and managing the
set of activities established under subsection (a);
``(C) carrying out the activities described in
paragraphs (3) through (6); and
``(D) carrying out such other duties relating to
the development and implementation of quantum
information science technologies as the Secretary may
direct.
``(3) Defining and codifying defense quantum information
science use cases.--
``(A) In general.--The Principal Quantum Advisor
shall--
``(i) identify operational challenges faced
by the Department of Defense that have the
potential to be addressed through the use of
quantum information science-technology based
solutions, including solutions based on the
quantum information science technology areas
described subparagraph (C);
``(ii) for each such challenge, determine
if the implementation of a quantum information
science technology-based solution has the
potential to be significantly more effective at
addressing such challenge compared to a non-
quantum information science technology-based
solution, taking into account the technology
and manufacturing readiness level of the
quantum information science technology-based
solution;
``(iii) for each potential quantum
information science technology-based solution
identified under clause (ii), evaluate and
determine the technology and manufacturing
readiness level of the solution taking into
account the current readiness level of such
solution--
``(I) within the Department;
``(II) among other departments and
agencies of the Federal Government;
``(III) among Five Eyes countries;
and
``(IV) within academia and
industry.
``(iv) for each quantum information science
technology-based solution determined under
clause (iii) to have a technology and
manufacturing readiness level of 5 or higher,
begin prototyping and evaluation activities of
such solution at scale in operationally
relevant environments by not later than the end
of fiscal year 2025; and
``(v) for each quantum information science
technology-based solution determined under
clause (iii) to have a technology and
manufacturing readiness level of 4 or lower,
submit to Congress a plan for funding such
solution over the period of five fiscal years
following the date of the report using
research, development, test, and evaluation
funds designated as budget activity 1 (basic
research), budget activity 2 (applied
research), budget activity 3 (advanced
technology development), or budget activity 4
(advanced component development and prototypes)
as those budget activity classifications are
set forth in volume 2B, chapter 5 of the
Department of Defense Financial Management
Regulation (DOD 7000.14-R), or successor
regulation.
``(B) Coordination.--In carrying out this
paragraph, the Principal Quantum Advisor shall
coordinate with and seek input from the Armed Forces
and unified combatant commands--
``(i) to identify and better understand the
operational requirements of such Armed Forces
and commands; and
``(ii) to ensure that the timeline for
transitioning any quantum information science
technology-based capability to operational use
within the Armed Forces and combatant commands
aligns with--
``(I) the plans of such Forces and
commands across the period covered by
the future-years defense program; and
``(II) the program objective
memorandum processes for such Forces
and commands.
``(C) Quantum information science technology areas
described.--The quantum information science technology
areas described in this subparagraph are the following:
``(i) Quantum sensing, including--
``(I) alternative precision
navigation and timing;
``(II) undersea or underground
detection;
``(III) advanced intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance
quantum imaging techniques; and
``(IV) biomedical and health care.
``(ii) Quantum computing, including--
``(I) annealing;
``(II) quantum-enabled machine
learning;
``(III) simulation and
optimization; and
``(IV) integrating quantum
computing with high-performance
supercomputing.
``(iii) Quantum annealing.
``(iv) Quantum communications, networking,
and networked quantum computers.
``(v) Quantum-enabled modeling and
simulation.
``(vi) Hybrid quantum computing and the
integration of quantum and classical computing
components.
``(vii) Such other quantum-enabled
technologies as the Principal Quantum Advisor
considers appropriate.
``(4) Acceleration of development and fielding of quantum
information science technologies.--The Principal Quantum
Advisor shall--
``(A) use the flexibility of regulations,
personnel, acquisition, partnerships with industry and
academia, or other relevant policies of the Department
to accelerate the transition and fielding of quantum
information science technologies;
``(B) ensure engagement with combatant commands,
defense and private industries, research universities,
and unaffiliated, nonprofit research institutions on
matters relating such quantum information science
technologies; and
``(C) provide technical advice and support
organizations and elements of the Department of
Defense, including the Armed Forces, to optimize the
use of quantum information science technologies to meet
mission requirements.
``(5) Industry and academia engagement.--
``(A) Inclusion in consortium.--The Secretary, in
coordination with the Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, shall ensure
that the Principal Quantum Advisor is included in the
activities of the consortium established pursuant to
section 201(b) of the National Quantum Initiative Act
(15 U.S.C. 8831(b)).
``(B) Outreach activities.--Not less frequently
than once each quarter, the Principal Quantum Advisor
shall conduct outreach and engagement with industry and
academic leaders--
``(i) to educate organizations in the
quantum information science industrial base on
national security quantum information science
use cases and operational challenges faced by
the Department that have the potential to be
addressed through the use of quantum
information science technology-based solutions
as described in paragraph (3);
``(ii) to the extent determined appropriate
by the Principal Quantum Advisor, provide
industry with the opportunity to identify
quantum information science technology-based
solutions to operational challenges faced by
the Department;
``(iii) to educate organizations in the
Defense industrial base on near-term and
commercially available quantum information
science technology-based solutions that provide
operationally relevant warfighting
capabilities;
``(iv) to advance relevant quantum
information science supply chains and
manufacturing capabilities within the United
States and among allies and partners of the
United States; and
``(v) to facilitate the commercialization
of quantum information science technology-based
solutions developed by the research and
engineering organizations of the Department of
Defense.
``(6) Allied quantum enhancement.--
``(A) Alignment with aukus efforts.--Based on the
quantum information science use cases identified under
paragraph (3)(A)(ii), the Principal Quantum Advisor
shall--
``(i) identify areas in which the United
Kingdom and Australia, pursuant to Pillar II
the partnership among Australia, the United
Kingdom, and the United States (commonly known
as `AUKUS' ) are pursuing technology aligned
with such use cases; and
``(ii) align Department research and
development and procurement funding in relation
to quantum information science technologies on
accelerating opportunities where Australia and
the United Kingdom are pursuing such
technologies.
``(B) Multilateral aukus and nato meetings.--The
Principal Quantum Advisor shall organize--
``(i) a recurring multilateral meeting of
quantum technology experts from the United
States, the United Kingdom, and Australia to
facilitate information-sharing and planning
relevant to quantum information science
technology and defense-specific use cases for
such technology; and
``(ii) a recurring multilateral meeting of
quantum technology experts from member nations
of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to
facilitate such information-sharing and
planning.
``(c) Strategic Plan.--
``(1) Plan required.--The Secretary shall develop strategic
plan to guide the development, assessment, procurement, and
implementation of quantum information science technologies
within the Department over the period of five years following
the date of the plan.
``(2) Elements.--The plan required under paragraph (1)
shall include the following:
``(A) Plans for the continuous evaluation,
development, and implementation of quantum information
science technology solutions within the Department.
``(B) Plans for the development, review,
performance evaluation, and adoption of a fault-
tolerant, utility-scale quantum computer and the
transition of that capability to appropriate
organizations and elements of the Department, including
the Armed Forces, and such other departments and
agencies of the Federal Government as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(C) Plans for allocating the resources of the
Department to ensure such resources are focused on
quantum information science technologies with the
potential to solve operational challenges.
``(D) Identification of quantum information science
technologies that--
``(i) have critical defense-specific
applications;
``(ii) cannot be adapted from commercially
available quantum information science
technology; and
``(iii) are unlikely to be pursued or
accelerated by industry because of limited
commercial value.
``(E) Plans for supporting the development of
capabilities identified under subparagraph (D).
``(F) Plans to help strengthen the quantum
information science supply chain domestically and among
trusted allies and against untrusted adversaries,
including through an assessment of--
``(i) any associated strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats; and
``(ii) critical components, suppliers, and
single points of failure.
``(3) Report to congress.--Not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of the Defense Quantum Acceleration
Act of 2025, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report
that includes the plan developed under paragraph (1).
``(d) Commercial Security Strategy.--The Secretary shall adopt a
comprehensive security strategy for commercially developed capabilities
based on the guide utilized in the Underexplored Systems for Utility-
Scale Quantum Computing program of the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency.
``(e) National Security Quantum Information Science Adoption
Acceleration Testbed.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Defense, in
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary
of Energy, shall establish a national defense quantum
information science joint center of excellence (referred to in
this subsection as the `Center').
``(2) Organization.--The Center shall be operated by the
Secretary and shall include participation from at least the
following organizations:
``(A) One or more research laboratories of the
Armed Forces.
``(B) A National Laboratory (as defined in section
2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)).
``(C) A federally funded research and development
center or a university-affiliated research center.
``(D) Quantum information science companies.
``(3) Location.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish
the Center at a location in the United States that is
reasonably accessible to each organization described in
paragraph (2).
``(4) Activities.--The Center shall carry out the following
activities:
``(A) Facilitate quantum information science
technology transition and workforce development
activities.
``(B) Conduct outreach to enhance industry and
academia's understanding of and contribution to
national security quantum information science
technology use cases and current operational challenges
faced by the Department.
``(C) Prototype quantum information science
technologies, with priority given to the prototyping
and transition of quantum information science-enabled
position, navigation, and timing efforts and quantum
sensors at technology readiness level six or higher.
``(D) Integrate the prototyping activities under
subparagraph (C) with the needs of the unified
combatant commands.
``(E) Accelerate the transition of advanced quantum
information science technology from the research and
development phase into operational use.
``(F) Expand the quantum information science
workforce of the United States and the quantum
information science workforces of nations that are
allies and partners of the United States.
``(5) Contract authority.--The Secretary may award grants
and enter into contracts and other agreements, on a competitive
basis, to support the activities of the Center.
``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $20,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
``(f) Research Opportunities and Workforce Planning.--
``(1) Enhancement of research opportunities.--Not later
than one year after the date of the enactment of Defense
Quantum Acceleration Act of 2025, the Secretary shall seek to
increase opportunities for the study of quantum information
science within--
``(A) the military service academies.
``(B) the Reserve Officers' Training Corps; and
``(C) other institutions and programs of the
Department and the Armed Forces that provide
postsecondary and graduate level education.
``(2) Standard operating procedures.--The Secretary shall
direct the chief of each Armed Force, in consultation with the
heads of the research laboratories under the jurisdiction of
such Armed Force--
``(A) to adopt internal standard operating
procedures for quantum information science workforce
development to monitor and evaluate progress toward
human capital goals and human capital programmatic
results; and
``(B) to involve top management, employees, and
other stakeholders in quantum information science
workforce planning by--
``(i) developing and implementing an
enterprise-wide strategic quantum workforce
plan; and
``(ii) communicating quantum workforce
goals, initiatives, and metrics for evaluating
success throughout each laboratory.
``(g) Budget Review.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall, acting through the
Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), require the
Secretaries of the military departments and the heads of the
Defense Agencies with responsibilities associated with any
quantum information science activity to transmit the proposed
budget for such activities for a fiscal year and for the period
covered by the future-years defense program submitted to
Congress under section 221 of this title for that fiscal year
to the Principal Quantum Advisor for review before submitting
the proposed budget to the Under Secretary of Defense
(Comptroller).
``(2) Report to secretary.--The Principal Quantum Advisor
shall review each proposed budget transmitted, and, not later
than January 31 of the year preceding the fiscal year for which
the budget is proposed, shall submit to the Secretary a report
containing the comments of the Principal Quantum Advisor with
respect to all such proposed budgets, together with the
certification of the Principal Quantum Advisor regarding
whether each proposed budget is adequate.
``(3) Report to congress.--Not later than March 31 of each
year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a
report specifying each proposed budget that the Principal
Quantum Advisor did not certify to be adequate. The report of
the Secretary shall include the following matters:
``(A) A discussion of the actions that the
Secretary proposes to take, together with any
recommended legislation that the Secretary considers
appropriate, to address the inadequacy of the proposed
budgets specified in the report.
``(B) Any additional comments that the Secretary
considers appropriate regarding the inadequacy of the
proposed budgets.
``(h) Definitions.--In this section;
``(1) The term `Five Eyes countries' means the following:
``(A) Australia.
``(B) Canada.
``(C) New Zealand.
``(D) The United Kingdom.
``(E) The United States.
``(2) The term `quantum information science' means the use
of the laws of quantum physics for the storage, transmission,
manipulation, computing, or measurement of information.''.
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