Schakowsky Opening Statement at Quantum Computing Hearing

Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) delivered the following opening remarks today at a hearing on Quantum Computing:

Today, we continue the Disrupter Series with an exploration of quantum computing. This technology is still in the research phase, but the potential applications are tremendous, from health care to energy efficiency.

Given this potential, global competitors from the European Union to China are rushing to invest in quantum computing. The U.S. must make strategic investments if it wants to stay ahead.

Those investments start with STEM education. We must encourage students, including young women and students of color, to pursue interests in computer science and physics. Fostering curiosity today prepares young minds to become great innovators of tomorrow. As a former teacher myself, I strongly believe that our future economic success depends on investing in our children's education.

Our research universities are leading the way on quantum computing. Public investment is crucial to developing technology until it can be profitably deployed in the private sector.

However, the federal government has failed to provide robust, reliable investment in quantum computing. The lack of investment in STEM education and research speaks to the misguided priorities of this Republican Congress. While wealthy shareholders get most of the gains from a $2 trillion Republican tax bill, Congress is underinvesting in students and research institutions. We fund tax cuts for the rich at the expense of our future prosperity.

Now that Congress has passed a budget agreement, we have the chance to make some of the investments that our country so desperately needs.

But instead of embracing the opportunity to advance bipartisan appropriations bills, the Republican majority plans to bring up a rescissions bill to pull back funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program and other programs. And today, we will be voting on a bill to literally take food out of the mouths of families.

We need to get our priorities straight. The U.S. can be a global leader in quantum computing and other groundbreaking technologies – but only if we prioritize investments in our future over tax cuts for the wealthy.

I look forward to hearing from our panel about the promise of quantum computing, and the challenges we face in developing this technology.

I am especially proud to welcome Professor Diana Franklin from the University of Chicago. The University of Chicago is one of the leaders in quantum computing research, and I am eager to hear more about this work.

Thank you, Chairman Latta. I yield back.

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