Quantum Benchmark Act

Summary#

This Act directs the Secretary of Defense to issue, within 180 days of enactment, a written policy to guide the development and acquisition of quantum computing systems for the Department of Defense. The policy must: define what counts as a “quantum computing system”; set a process for validating and verifying such systems before they are developed or acquired; and ensure the Department follows findings and processes from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (or any successor initiative).

After the policy is issued, a quantum computing system may not be developed or acquired by a Department element unless it has been validated and verified under the policy. The Secretary of Defense may grant a case-by-case waiver to this restriction. If the Secretary waives the restriction for a specific system, the Secretary must provide written notice and a justification to the congressional defense committees within 15 days. The term "congressional defense committees" is defined by section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.

What it means for you#

  • If you work for the Department of Defense or as a contractor on quantum computing systems, your work will be subject to new validation and verification rules once the Secretary issues the policy.
  • The Department must follow DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative findings when developing or buying quantum systems.
  • The Secretary can allow exceptions on a case-by-case basis, but must notify congressional defense committees quickly.
  • If you are not involved with defense quantum projects, this Act likely has no direct effect on you.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs or budgetary effects is included in the bill text.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.