Ranking Member Lofgren's Opening Statement at Markup of the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology is holding an Full Committee markup of H.R. 8462, National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act.(link is external)

Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) opening statement as prepared for the record is below:

Thank you, Chairman Babin. Today the Science Committee will consider a bill that advances quantum technology, the next frontier in computing, communications, and sensing. Introduced by Energy Subcommittee Chairman Randy Weber, the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act (NQIA) continues the work this committee began eight years ago, and I am very eager to build upon our prior accomplishment.

For decades, the United States has enjoyed being the global leader in quantum information science in terms of both research output and investment across every quantum application and technology. Our leadership was built upon a foundation of investments and efforts at all levels - in academia, industry, and our federal government. In 2018, Congress demonstrated strong bipartisan support for the emerging quantum industry with the National Quantum Initiative Act, which created a whole-of-government approach to advancing quantum technologies.

However, U.S. leadership is far from assured. In fact, we are on the precipice of not just falling to second place, but maybe even third or fourth. In 2024, the Chinese Communist Party invested more than four times the United States in quantum R&D. In 2025, the CCP announced a $138 billion fund to support their public-private partnerships in emerging technologies, including quantum computing.

The Chinese Communist Party is in position to outspend our efforts again this year and for the next five, while the U.S. administration is taking a sledgehammer to U.S. science agencies, including the leading agencies for quantum information science. But China is not alone in its investments. Japan is planning to invest roughly $860 million in quantum research in 2026. In the European Union, the German government alone is planning to spend $3 billion on quantum technologies between 2022 and 2026.

And while some may have trouble with that kind of math, let me lay out the consequences. Without significant investment, we sell out the future and waste whatever technological lead we have achieved so far. After significant outreach and bipartisan negotiations, we are ready today to update the National Quantum Initiative Act and meet emerging challenges for U.S. competitiveness in quantum. At the moment, this bill does not have any funds authorized.

It was important to me - and I think the Chairman agrees - that we not undercut the agencies as they seek to accelerate investments in quantum.

Unfortunately, we do not yet have fiscal year 2026 spending plans for the agencies, which makes it difficult for us to adequately project appropriate spending levels in this bill. Chairman Babin has assured me he will work with me to address this challenge so we can be assured all of our relevant agencies have the resources to carry out the activities authorized under this bill before this bill moves to the floor.

Overall, I support the bipartisan policy proposals outlined in this bill. With this bill, we can develop the critical human and physical infrastructure that will enable the United States to move quantum technologies from lab to market. Human infrastructure means preparing a quantum-ready workforce in the United States from the skilled technician to the doctoral graduate. And physical infrastructure means creating new quantum testbeds, updated state-of-the-art federal research laboratories, and new centers to advance research in quantum sensing, measurement, and engineering.

The NQIA reauthorization will help leverage our international partners to maximize our quantum research and development capabilities and better compete with our adversaries.

It also officially incorporates NASA into NQI to ensure we are capitalizing on their unique capabilities, perspectives, and testing capacity.

Lastly, the bill updates the goals and objectives of many quantum programs across agencies to ensure quantum research can move beyond basic science and into applied research, demonstration, and commercial applications.

The United States must be the leader in this emerging technology, and achieving that requires sobriety on what policy changes and funding are need to maintain U.S. leadership. And on that note, I thank the Chairman and his staff for working with me and my staff on this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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