Matt Furlow
Senior Director and Policy Counsel, C_TEC, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Jack Overstreet
Senior Manager, Cyber, Space, and National Security Policy Division, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Intern, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Published
March 24, 2025
The Big Picture:
Quantum technologies—computing, sensing, and communications—are poised to revolutionize all areas of human endeavor. These technological breakthroughs will improve the lives of Americans by driving scientific discovery, lead to new medical treatments and drugs, promote cheaper energy, create new products and strengthen information security. A global race is underway to be the leader in this powerful technology. If America loses that race, our national security and economic leadership will be endangered.
The Chamber’s Take:
Last month, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce brought together Senator Marsha Blackburn and industry leaders to unveil quantum policy principles to ensure U.S. leadership. These principles provide a roadmap to harness quantum’s potential while addressing its challenges.
How America Can Lead in Quantum:
The U.S. should follow the Chamber’s quantum principles and focus on the following actions to strengthen American quantum leadership.
- Commercialization: Accelerate the deployment of quantum technologies by leveraging public-private partnerships, procurement, and other tools to unlock quantum’s benefits.
- Security: Mitigate the risks posed by quantum-enabled cyber threats through promoting the government and private sector’s transition to post-quantum cryptographic solutions.
- Research and Development: Invest in basic and applied quantum R&D and facilitate public-private R&D partnerships. Just as important, policymakers should incentivize business R&D through protecting patents and a competitive tax code.
- Supply Chains: Reduce supply chain risk through strengthening domestic and allied quantum supply chains, together with a U.S. business environment conducive to investment.
- International Cooperation: Establish strategic partnerships with trusted allies to promote quantum commercialization, R&D, supply chains, and security.
- Workforce: Partner with the private sector to develop and invest in quantum talent supply chains.
What Can Congress Do:
Congress must reauthorize and strengthen the National Quantum Initiative (NQI), which was enacted on a bipartisan basis during the first Trump Administration. Reauthorization can build on this initiative through facilitating commercialization of quantum technologies and foster international collaboration. It will also send an important signal to industry that the U.S. is serious about winning the quantum race.
The Bottom Line:
All signs indicate that quantum technologies will be transformational. Our principles provide a clear path to drive innovation to improve the lives of all Americans and protect our national interests.
About the authors
Matt Furlow
Matt is the Senior Director and Policy Counsel for the Chamber's Center for Technology Engagement Center.
