FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Quantum Information Science

Original title: THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S EFFORTS IN THE FIELD OF QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE

January 1, 2020

quantum computing science and technology Department of Energy national security research and development

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

The Frame

What this does

This hearing explores federal research priorities and potential future funding for quantum computing, a technology that could significantly impact national data processing capabilities and scientific research.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Department of Energy

The agency is tasked with exploring research partnerships and resource allocation for quantum information science.

Academic and Research Institutions

Researchers and universities are involved in the development and testing of quantum technologies through federal partnerships.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2020.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing to discuss the Department of Energy's role in advancing quantum information science. Experts and officials examined the potential for quantum technology to revolutionize computing and the importance of maintaining U.S. competitiveness in the field.

Key Facts

The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on September 25, 2018, regarding quantum information science (QIS).
The hearing focused on the Department of Energy's (DOE) efforts to leverage resources and partnerships for quantum research.
The committee noted that China has announced a $10 billion investment in quantum technology.
The hearing included testimony from the DOE Under Secretary for Science, university professors, and representatives from Microsoft and national laboratories.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is quantum information science?

It is a field of study that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to develop new, faster, and more efficient ways of computing and processing data.

Why is the U.S. government interested in this technology?

The government views it as a major scientific challenge with the potential to revolutionize data processing and scientific discovery, and is concerned about maintaining a competitive edge against international investments.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Focus on International Competition

The hearing explicitly frames quantum research as a competitive race against international actors, specifically citing China's $10 billion investment.

China Department of Energy

Connected Entities

personLisa Murkowski“Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources”Map →

organizationDepartment of Energy“Federal agency responsible for energy and nuclear research”Map →

locationChina“Noted as having announced a $10 billion investment in quantum technology”Map →

personTammy Duckworth“U.S. Senator from Illinois”Map →

personPaul M. Dabbar“Under Secretary for Science, U.S. Department of Energy”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools