U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6227, the National Quantum Initiative Act, a bipartisan bill to accelerate research in the field of quantum science.

“The possibilities of quantum information science are tremendous, with the potential to transform the speed and scale at which we process data, allowing for breakthroughs in almost every facet of our lives,” Murkowski said. “A National Quantum Initiative will provide much needed focus and direction to help us stay ahead of the curve.” 

Quantum Information Science (QIS) is a wide-ranging area of research that can harness quantum physics phenomena for application in sensing, communications, and computing, which could enable computers to go beyond today’s physical limits to store and process far more data faster than ever thought possible.

H.R. 6227 is sponsored by retiring House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and cosponsored by 36 other members. Earlier this month, the Senate unanimously passed H.R. 6227 with an amendment, sending it back to the House for final consideration. 

Murkowski is chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The committee held an oversight hearing on QIS in September 2018.