U.S. Senators Introduce Bipartisan National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act
U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tedd Young (R-IN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Steve Daines (D-MT) have introduced the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, which extends the original deadline of the initiative from 2029 to 2034 and authorizes $2.7 billion in federal funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and NASA to accelerate research and development of quantum technologies over the next five years. Among other things, the bill directs NIST to establish three quantum research centers to advance quantum sensing and mandates an interagency process to develop a strategy to advance quantum technology development with international partners.
Senator Ted Cruz Requests Investigation Into Potentially Illegal Foreign Influence on U.S. AI Policy
U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-TX) has sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney General to request that the Department of Justice launch an investigation into whether foreign entities violated federal law by engaging in lobbying activities in the United States on AI policy issues without registering as foreign agents under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). In the letter, Senator Cruz denounced European governments’ regulatory approach to technology, which affects U.S. companies, and accused overseas organizations of illegally influencing U.S. AI policy.
