In early 2021, Frank Lucas, a senior member of the Science, Space and Technology (SS&T) Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, introduced the Science and Technology Quantum User Extension Act (QUEST). The QUEST Act calls for $340 million over 5 years for quantum research and development.
A few months ago, the QUEST bill was passed by Congress, but according to Fortune, the QUEST bill has been eliminated in the $1.75 trillion "Rebuilding a Better Future" proposed by US President Biden. Fortune even describes it as a "quantum failure." "As Beijing scrambles forward, Washington seems to have conceded defeat," the article said. ”
The article's two authors, Miles Taylor, were former googlers in charge of advanced technology and security strategy in the U.S. and chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Daria Bahrami is the Program Manager for Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats at the R Street Institute. She previously worked at the National Geographic Society and volunteered for several military cyber and ethical AI programs, including the Military Cyber Professionals Association and the 2020 United Nations Internet Governance Forum.
They wrote that the QUEST Act would invest $340 million in quantum research and development over 5 years. These funds will help the United States stay ahead of the quantum race, bringing together government and private industry to strengthen quantum computing research, educate the future quantum workforce, and accelerate the advancement of core technologies. Without this necessary investment, the United States could fall into a "quantum winter" — a period of exhaustion of technology investment that offers rival countries the perfect opportunity to overtake the United States.
In terms of content, the QUEST Bill would require the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a program that aims to "encourage and facilitate research using U.S. quantum computing hardware and quantum computing clouds" to ultimately increase U.S. research enterprises and labor in this area and accelerate the development of quantum computing capabilities. The budget is as follows:
$30 million in fiscal 2022;
$50 million in fiscal 2023;
$70 million in fiscal 2024;
$90 million in fiscal 2025;
$100 million in fiscal 2026.
Now, with the QUEST bill dying, they suggest that, in order to avoid this potentially disastrous situation, members of Congress should urge that the bill be included in any economic package considered by the Senate or into appropriations legislation under consideration. "Quantum computing is developing so fast that we can't stand idly by."
They went on to say that the QUEST Act was only the first step. Government agencies must now do more to prepare for a quantum age that is no longer far away. This includes strategic planning at the highest levels of government for how the technology will affect U.S. defense and economic competitiveness, as well as investing existing research funds in near-term applications.
In the end, they say, falling behind would be a huge failure. "We have clearly seen a 'Sputnik moment' (the Soviet Union launched the first artificial Earth satellite, meaning a threat to the United States). Beijing is investing heavily in the technologies that will shape the future, and Washington must do the same — or it's too late. ”