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National Quantum Initiative Act

Public Law 115-368 · H.R. 6227 · 115th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Donald Trump (R) on Dec 21, 2018 · Science, Technology, Communications

Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX-21)

Cosponsors (36): Rep. Eddie Johnson,

Passage votesYeaNay

  • HouseRecorded vote: 348 yea, 11 nay348–11
  • SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

National Quantum Initiative Act

TITLE I--NATIONAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE

(Sec. 101) This bill directs the President to implement a National Quantum Initiative Program to, among other things, establish the goals and priorities for a 10-year plan to accelerate the development of quantum information science and technology applications.

Quantum information science is the use of the laws of quantum physics for the storage, transmission, manipulation, or measurement of information.

(Sec. 103) The National Science and Technology Council shall establish a Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science, including membership from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to guide program activities.

(Sec. 104) The President must establish a National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee to advise the President and subcommittee on the program and trends and developments in quantum information science and technology.

TITLE II--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY QUANTUM ACTIVITIES

(Sec. 201) NIST shall carry out specified quantum science activities and convene a consortium to identify the future measurement, standards, cybersecurity, and other needs to support the development of a quantum information science and technology industry.

TITLE III--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION QUANTUM ACTIVITIES

(Sec. 301) The National Science Foundation shall:

• carry out a basic research and education program on quantum information science and engineering, and

• award grants for the establishment of Multidisciplinary Centers for Quantum Research and Education.

TITLE IV--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY QUANTUM ACTIVITIES

(Sec. 401) The Department of Energy (DOE) shall carry out a basic research program on quantum information science.

(Sec. 402) The Office of Science of DOE shall establish and operate National Quantum Information Science Research Centers to conduct basic research to accelerate scientific breakthroughs in quantum information science and technology.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 115th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 348 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

348 yea11 nay73 present or did not vote

ProEstablishmentAnti
Economic left–right
More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(163)

Republicans who voted yea(185)

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 1149 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Related bills

1 bill the Library of Congress relates to this one.

  • S. 3143Related bill

    National Quantum Initiative Act

Data notes

Related bills are identified by the Congressional Research Service, the House and the Senate: companion and identical bills, bills with similar text, bills that were folded into this law, and rules that brought it to the floor. A bill that is itself a public law in this site’s data links here; the others link to Congress.gov.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 25 actions.

  1. Dec 21, 2018Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 115-368.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. FloorFloor · Presented to President.
  4. Dec 19, 2018Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 348 - 11 (Roll no. 442).House roll call 442
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Smith (TX) objected to the Yea - Nay vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as with…
  7. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Smith (TX) moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
  8. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 6227.
  9. OtherOther · Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 348 - 11 (Roll no. 442).House roll call 442
  10. Dec 17, 2018FloorFloor · Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  11. Dec 13, 2018FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  12. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  13. CommitteeCommittee · Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
  14. Sep 17, 2018CommitteeCommittee · Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  15. Sep 13, 2018FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  16. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  17. FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6227.
  18. FloorFloor · Considered under suspension of the rules.
  19. FloorFloor · Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  20. CalendarCalendar · Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 740.
  21. CommitteeCommittee · Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 115-950.
  22. Jun 27, 2018CommitteeCommittee · Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  23. CommitteeCommittee · Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
  24. Jun 26, 2018CommitteeCommittee · Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
  25. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in House
Data notes

Every action the Library of Congress lists for the bill, from introduction to signing, plus the dated committee hearings. The source lists many steps twice (the chamber’s own entry and the Library of Congress copy, or a presidential and a became-law entry with the same words); those are shown once. Amendments are listed in their own section.

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Amendments

1 amendment offered to the bill, with the last recorded step of each.

  • S.Amdt. 4114SenateSen. John ThuneR-SD· offered Dec 13, 2018Agreed to

    In the nature of a substitute.

    Dec 13, 2018: Amendment SA 4114 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

    Agreed to
Data notes

Amendments offered to this bill in either chamber, as the Library of Congress records them: each with a status read from its last recorded step: agreed to, rejected, withdrawn, ruled out of order, fell with another amendment, or offered with no vote recorded (most Senate amendments are only ever offered). The wording of each amendment is the source’s. Amendments to amendments and amendments to other bills are not listed.

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Official record

The bill’s full text is on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.