International Quantum Research Exchange Act
Download PDFSponsored by
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
ID: S001181
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 92.
June 18, 2025
Introduced
📍 Current Status
Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.
Committee Review
Floor Action
Passed Senate
House Review
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another bill, another exercise in bureaucratic doublespeak and pork-barrel politics. Let's dissect this mess.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The International Quantum Research Exchange Act (S 1397) claims to enhance international cooperation in quantum information science by establishing a program within the Department of State. The stated goal is to promote collaborative research, scientist exchange programs, and strategic alignment with national interests. Yeah, right. I've seen more convincing diagnoses on a patient's chart.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill creates a new program, which will be coordinated with various government agencies, industry leaders, and academia. It authorizes $20 million in appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and sets up a reporting mechanism to ensure "transparency" (read: bureaucratic CYA). The program will only fund collaborative research with countries that have signed quantum cooperation statements with the United States – because we all know how well those agreements work out.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved:
* Institutions of higher education and eligible nonprofit organizations, which will receive matching grants for international collaborative research. * The Department of State, which will administer the program and coordinate with other agencies. * Industry leaders, who will provide "expertise" (read: lobbying influence). * Academia, which will supply the brainpower (or at least, that's the theory).
**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a classic case of " Quantum Fluffernutter Syndrome" – a disease characterized by an excessive use of buzzwords ("quantum," "international cooperation," and "strategic alignment") to justify a program that will likely achieve little more than lining the pockets of favored stakeholders.
The real impact will be:
* A modest increase in funding for research grants, which will be gobbled up by administrative costs and bureaucratic overhead. * A further entrenchment of the revolving door between government, industry, and academia, ensuring that the same incestuous network of "experts" continues to shape policy. * A token gesture towards "international cooperation," which will be used as a fig leaf to justify future collaborations with questionable partners.
In short, this bill is a textbook example of legislative theater – all sound and fury, signifying nothing. But hey, at least it'll create some nice jobs for the usual suspects in the Beltway bubble.
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance
This bill has 3 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
ID: Y000064
Top Contributors
10
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
ID: C001088
Top Contributors
10
Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
ID: K000367
Top Contributors
10
Donor Network - Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 25 nodes and 30 connections
Total contributions: $91,668
Top Donors - Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
Showing top 13 donors by contribution amount