No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section amends the National Quantum Initiative Act to (1) add definitions of "critical infrastructure," "post-quantum cryptography" (i.e., cryptographic algorithms or methods assessed as not specifically vulnerable to attack by quantum or classical computers), and "sector risk management agency"; and (2) require the NIST Director, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and sector risk management agency heads as appropriate, to promote voluntary adoption and deployment of post-quantum cryptography standards through public guidance and resources, technical assistance to high-risk entities (e.g., critical infrastructure or digital infrastructure providers), and other activities; and authorizes NIST, after issuing such standards, to establish a grant program providing technical assistance to high-risk entities for adopting the standards and remediating quantum-related vulnerabilities (with grants covering reasonable costs up to an amount specified by NIST and requiring consultation with CISA, other sector agencies, and private sector representatives on program guidance). This section also amends the Cyber Security Research and Development Act to expand National Science Foundation grant-eligible research areas on innovative computer and network security approaches to explicitly include post-quantum cryptography (i.e., under authentication, cryptography, and secure data communications technology). (As background, the NSF program supports merit-reviewed competitive grants for basic cybersecurity research; authorizations expired after FY2005.)