U.S. Congressman Introduces American Quantum Competitiveness Act
Key Takeaways
Commerce Role: The Secretary of Commerce would serve as principal advisor to the President on commercial quantum technology and trusted supply chains.
Strategy Cycle: Commerce would post a public national strategy within two years of enactment and every three years after.
Regional Support: The NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub and the Quantum Industry Coalition backed the measure on introduction.
U.S. Representative Nick Langworthy (R-NY) introduced the American Quantum Competitiveness Act on August 31, 2026. The House measure, circulated as H.R. 10163, would make the Secretary of Commerce the principal advisor to the President on commercial manufacturing, establishment, deployment, use, and scaling of quantum technology; on supply and availability of critical components; and on establishment, maintenance, and resiliency of a trusted quantum supply chain. Langworthy’s announcement calls Commerce the federal lead for commercial quantum technology. The draft still reads “H. R. ll,” with a blank committee line and no numbered Congress.gov page.
Commerce Duties and Trusted Supply Rules
Quantum technology is defined as the application of quantum information science in interstate or foreign commerce. The bill’s quantum information science definition tracks the National Quantum Initiative Act (15 U.S.C. § 8801). A trusted supplier must be domiciled, headquartered, and organized in the United States or a trusted foreign partner, and must keep its principal place of business there. Trusted foreign partner means (A) the European Union itself, or (B) a foreign country not treated as a covered nation and holding membership in NATO, the European Union, or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Covered nation takes the meaning given in 10 U.S.C. § 4872(f), as incorporated by the circulated introduced text.
The Secretary of Commerce would be required to:
Identify critical components
Assess availability among U.S. and trusted suppliers
Map covered-nation supply risk
Address investment barriers
Promote a trusted quantum supply chain
Stakeholder consultation would occur as the Secretary determines appropriate Nothing in the bill requires a private firm to share information or implement Commerce recommendations, and the Secretary is not required to disclose confidential business information or trade secrets.
America cannot afford to wait until the next generation of technology has already been developed overseas before we decide we want to compete. The American Quantum Competitiveness Act is about getting ahead of the curve, strengthening our domestic supply chains and making sure the United States leads in quantum technology rather than becoming dependent on foreign adversaries.
Within two years of enactment, and every three years after, the Secretary would post on a public website a report covering actions taken, emerging risks and long-term trends, a comprehensive strategy to advance U.S. commercial leadership and a trusted quantum supply chain, and recommended next steps.
Manufacturing Corridor and Industry Backing
Langworthy cast the bill as a national competitiveness tool with a Western New York and Southern Tier manufacturing angle. His announcement, not the statute, lists semiconductors, photonics, lasers, and cryogenics as needed supplier industries. The NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub endorsed the measure. It is a U.S. Economic Development Administration Tech Hub for semiconductor manufacturing covering the Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Ithaca, Auburn, and Batavia metropolitan areas. CenterState Corporation for Economic Opportunity is the lead applicant. Co-conveners are the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, OneROC, and CenterState CEO.
“A strategic, increased federal focus on innovation and commercialization for emerging quantum technologies supports the NY SMART I-Corridor’s goals […]. With our shared region’s existing assets in the semiconductor and photonics industries, this legislation will deepen existing opportunities and create new ones to develop talent, technology, and domestic supply chains,” said Regional Innovation Officer Dr. Joseph Stefko.
The Quantum Industry Coalition, whose members include IBM, Microsoft, and Google, also backed the Act. “The Quantum Industry Coalition supports the American Quantum Competitiveness Act, which will help strengthen U.S. commercial quantum policy, enhance the development of trusted, resilient quantum supply chains, and develop a national quantum competitiveness strategy,” said executive director Paul Stimers. Rochester Institute of Technology and five other New York research universities were listed as supporters.
“America cannot afford to wait until the next generation of technology has already been developed overseas before we decide we want to compete,” Langworthy said. “The American Quantum Competitiveness Act is about getting ahead of the curve, strengthening our domestic supply chains and making sure the United States leads in quantum technology rather than becoming dependent on foreign adversaries.”
Langworthy later said, “Technology leadership is ultimately about more than winning a race for scientific breakthroughs. It is about making sure those breakthroughs become American-made products, American companies and American jobs.”
Bottom Line
The bill would make Commerce the President’s principal advisor on commercial quantum technology and trusted supply chains.
Find out more here. The circulated introduced text is available here.
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