Quantum networking and communications

In this section: The term “Director” means the Director of the National Science Foundation. The term “appropriate committees of Congress” has the meaning given such term in section 8801 of title 15. The term “Q2Work Program” means the Q2Work Program supported by the Foundation. Not later than 180 days after August 9, 2022, the Director shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study to evaluate and make recommendations for the quantum information science workforce. The study shall— characterize the quantum information science workforce, including by— identify near- and long-term quantum information science workforce needs across government, academia, and industry sectors, including identifying the cross-disciplinary academic degrees or academic courses necessary to— assess the state of quantum information science education and skills training at all education levels and identify gaps in meeting current and future workforce needs, including with respect to— Not later than two years after August 9, 2022, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine shall submit to Congress and the Director a report containing the results of the study conducted pursuant to paragraph (1). Not later than one year after August 9, 2022, the Director, building on the National Science Foundation’s role in the National Q–12 Education Partnership and programs such as Q2Work Program, shall make awards to institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, or consortia thereof to carry out a pilot program, to be known as the “Next Generation Quantum Leaders Pilot Program” (in this subsection referred to as the “Program”), for the education and training of the next generation of students and teachers in the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. In carrying out the Program, the Director shall— In carrying out the Program, the Director shall make competitive, merit-reviewed awards to— In carrying out the Program and to the extent practicable, the Director shall ensure there is a wide, equitable distribution of Program participants across diverse geographic areas and that the Program includes a diverse representation of students, including students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM. The Director shall carry out the Program in consultation with the QIS Workforce Working Group of the Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science of the National Science and Technology Council and the Advancing Informal STEM Learning Program. Not later than four years after August 9, 2022, the Director shall submit to Congress a report that includes the following: There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director $8,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2026 to carry out this section. This subsection shall terminate on the date that is four years after August 9, 2022.