Bill Summary
This legislation is a bill that requires the Secretary of Defense to conduct an assessment of quantum computing technology in order to address issues related to exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). The assessment must be completed within one year and will be conducted by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Installations, Environment, and Energy. The assessment will include an analysis of how hybrid quantum classical computing can be utilized to address chemical contamination from PFAS, an inventory of existing and potential work on PFAS exposure, and an assessment of quantum computing resources and their potential for addressing PFAS exposure. The bill also requires a description of funding needed to utilize quantum computing for addressing PFAS exposure.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could potentially affect people who have been exposed to PFAS, as it requires an assessment of quantum computing technology to address problems associated with exposure to PFAS. This could lead to potential solutions and remedies for those affected by PFAS exposure.
2. This legislation could also affect people working in the defense industry, as the Secretary of Defense is required to conduct the assessment of quantum computing technology. This could lead to potential partnerships with private sector technology companies and academic institutions, creating opportunities for those in the industry.
3. The assessment of current quantum computing efforts of the Department and the potential for utilizing cloud-based quantum systems could also affect people working in the field of quantum computing and technology. It could potentially lead to increased funding and resources for quantum computing development, creating more job opportunities and advancements in the field.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1534 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1534
To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct an assessment of quantum
computing technology to address problems associated with exposure to
PFAS, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 16, 2019
Mr. Peters (for himself and Ms. Ernst) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense to conduct an assessment of quantum
computing technology to address problems associated with exposure to
PFAS, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ASSESSMENT OF QUANTUM COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY TO ADDRESS PFAS
EXPOSURE.
(a) Assessment Required.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the
Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and in
consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Installations,
Environment, and Energy, shall complete an assessment of quantum
computing and how it may be used to address problems associated with
exposure to PFAS.
(b) Elements.--The assessment required by subsection (a) shall
include the following:
(1) Analysis of the potential of hybrid quantum classical
computing to utilize the unique attributes of such computing
for addressing issues of chemical contamination such as that
caused by PFAS.
(2) Assessment of the potential of quantum computing to
address problems of exposure to PFAS, to remediate solutions,
and to develop alternatives to PFAS for materials that
otherwise contain PFAS.
(3) An inventory of the existing and potential work on
exposure to PFAS and possible partnership opportunities with
academic institutions, private sector technology and chemical
companies, and other Federal and State government entities.
(4) Assessment of the availability of current and near-term
quantum computing resources such as cloud based quantum
systems, as well as a roadmap for long-term quantum
development.
(5) An assessment of the current quantum computing efforts
of the Department and how each existing quantum computing
effort may assist or serve as a model for the Department.
(6) A description of the amount of funding that would be
required to take initial steps to leverage near term quantum
computing to address problems relating to exposure to PFAS.
(c) PFAS Defined.--In this section, the term ``PFAS'' means the
group of chemicals known as ``per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances''.
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