By John Thune and Lamar Smith For the last several decades, America's lead in cutting-edge technology has helped propel our economy and national security. America is now in a race with China and Europe to develop the next technological breakthroughs based on the power of quantum science. It's a race we must win. We have introduced the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018 to help align and accelerate public and private research and development of quantum science. Like earlier national endeavors involving space and nuclear energy, the race to quantum computing has immense economic and national security implications for the U.S. The tiny, tiny universe of quantum physics -- atoms, protons, electrons, photons -- looms very, very large in our future. Quantum science explores and exploits subtle aspects of quantum physics, such as the idea that subatomic particles can exist in many possible states at the same time, known as "quantum superposition." This will lead to valuable, real-world applications. For example, conventional computing uses a series of tiny, electronic on-off switches within a processing chip. Technological advances have made possible supercomputers that can perform a series of on-off operations at astonishing speeds. But classical computing technology is nearing its limits. Quantum computing, however, is different. Rather than a series of ultra-high speed on-off switches, quantum computers rely on "qbits." These are subatomic particles that are both on and off at the same time. This property and other quantum phenomena will enable quantum computers to perform complex calculations at speeds that are potentially millions of times faster than today's most advanced supercomputers. Fully functioning quantum computers may be 10 years or more away. But the new industries and new jobs this technology will create are just over the horizon. Quantum computing promises drastic improvements in the security of data and electronic communications, precise long-range weather forecasts, and the development of new medicines and materials. Applications of this technology will have a profound impact on communication security, navigation, imaging, and many other technologies that are not otherwise possible with conventional hardware. Despite these potential benefits, however, falling behind in the race for quantum technology would have sobering national security implications. The nation that harnesses quantum communications technology first may be able to decode -- in a matter of seconds -- every other nations' most sensitive encrypted national security information as well as proprietary technologies and even the personal information of individuals. In testimony before Congress, expert witnesses have warned that as other nations around the world rapidly advance their own quantum programs, the U.S. faces a real threat of falling behind. China and the European Union are investing billions of dollars in new research facilities and equipment for quantum efforts. China, in particular, has stated publicly its national goal of surpassing the U.S. during the next decade. That is why our nation must devise a national quantum strategy and preserve America's lead in the race to this technology. The National Quantum Initiative Act meets challenges by creating a 10-year program to advance quantum development and technology applications in the U.S. The bill is designed to put to use the expertise and resources of U.S. industry, academia and government to move quantum information science to the next level of research and development. The legislation establishes a National Quantum Coordination Office and codifies an interagency Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to oversee interagency coordination, provide strategic planning support, serve as a central point of contact for research, and promote commercialization of federal research by the private sector. The bill also supports basic research, education and standards development in multiple federal agencies. These activities will address fundamental research gaps, create a stronger workforce, and develop ways to give U.S. companies and workers an enduring competitive advantage. This bill will ensure that ongoing federal, academic, and private sector research work together to win the scientific race of the 21st century. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, is chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., is chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

By Chuck Grassley and Lamar Smith When Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986, it was hailed as a victory for border security in exchange for an amnesty that addressed illegal immigration. For the first time in our nation's history, Congress made it a federal crime to employ undocumented workers. At that time, everyone -- Democrats and Republicans -- believed that Congress had finally solved the problem of illegal immigration by cutting off the "jobs" magnet. But much of the bill was never enforced, and 32 years later, it is clear that Congress must do more to protect American workers and to combat illegal immigration. Instead of shutting off the jobs magnet, the 1986 amnesty encouraged more illegal immigration by incentivizing employment-document fraud and identity theft. To make matters worse, employers have very little ability to determine the validity of employment documents. If an employer suspects that a document is stolen or spoofed and refuses to hire someone, they face the prospect of lengthy and expensive discrimination lawsuits. Because of this combination of factors, the demand for unlawful employment remains. Today, the U.S. faces a crisis of epic proportions, with an estimated population of 11 million to 15 million undocumented immigrants. There is a proven, cost-effective tool to help reduce unlawful employment and to remove future incentives for illegal immigration. That tool is E-Verify. E-Verify is a voluntary, quick and free workforce verification system provided by the federal government that instantly checks an individual's employment eligibility. E-Verify is the most effective tool available to fight illegal immigration because it drastically reduces or eliminates the illegal jobs magnet. A recent study found that making E-Verify mandatory not only decreases unlawful immigration, but it also encourages current undocumented immigrants to return home. The study reviewed the Legal Arizona Workers Act, which requires every employer in that state to use E-Verify, and found that since the law was implemented in 2008, undocumented immigrants either moved to states without mandatory E-Verify or returned to their home countries. This study mirrors other research that demonstrates unlawful immigration fell by as much as 50 percent in a single year in states with mandatory E-Verify laws. Given the clear impact E-Verify has on both future illegal immigration and the current undocumented population, we are disappointed that E-Verify has not been a priority in this year's immigration debates. We both have long been proponents of requiring workforce verification nationally and we believe mandatory E-Verify should be part of any immigration solution. E-Verify is supported by the vast majority of voters -- 82 percent -- and many businesses, particularly those that already follow the law and seek to employ a legal workforce, want to see it implemented. One-third of employers voluntarily use the E-Verify program and 1,500 more employers sign up for E-Verify each week. We understand that requiring E-Verify presents challenges for some industries, particularly our nation's agriculture sector. We are not unsympathetic to those challenges. However, in order for Congress to address broader legal workforce issues, the American people must first have trust in our nation's lawful immigration system. The only way to do that is to stop illegal immigration. E-Verify does that, and it is a critical first and necessary step toward building that trust. It is our sincere hope that the administration and congressional leaders will commit to making mandatory E-Verify part of any immigration reform proposal. At a minimum, any reform legislation should contain a permanent authorization of the current voluntary verification program, incentives for employer participation, legal immunity for using the E-Verify system, and information sharing between the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. Those steps -- while nowhere near as effective as mandatory E-Verify -- are at least helpful improvements to the current system. We look forward to the continued discussions surrounding immigration reform. And we hope that Congress will recognize the mistakes of 1986 and finally shut off the jobs magnet once and for all. The American people depend on us to restore integrity to our immigration system. We cannot fail them.

By: Lamar Smith Harnessing the power of the stars here on Earth could supply our future energy needs. If we replicate the same nuclear reactions that occur in a star within a fusion reactor, the heat from these reactions could be converted into abundant renewable and reliable electricity. The potential benefits from a fusion reactor are incalculable; the fuel is abundant and widely accessible and the carbon footprint is zero. When commercial fusion becomes available, it will revolutionize the energy market and significantly reduce global carbon emissions. This technology will lead the way to addressing climate change. In short, fusion is a safe, reliable, and clean source of energy. While we cannot predict when fusion will become a viable part of our energy portfolio, future generations will benefit greatly when it is developed. The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, which I chair, oversees the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science, which includes its Fusion Energy Sciences program. Earlier this year, we heard from researchers about innovative approaches to solving the challenges of fusion science and the next steps for the U.S. fusion research program. A critical step on the path to achieving commercial fusion energy is the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project. The ITER project is a major scientific collaboration between the European Union, Japan, South Korea, China, India, Russia, and the United States. It will design, build, and operate what will be the world's largest magnetic fusion reactor. The U.S. has agreed to supply personnel, deliver hardware, and provide funding for the ITER project. With the United States contributing 9 percent of construction costs and 13 percent of the total for operations, deactivation, and decommissioning of ITER, our scientists will be able to access 100 percent of the discoveries achieved through this first-of-a-kind facility. That's a good deal for the American people. Though located in France, ITER is truly an American research project. More than 80 percent of total U.S. awards and obligations to ITER fund researchers and facilities here in the United States. As of December 2017, the U.S. ITER organization has awarded more than $975 million in research and engineering funding to approximately 600 U.S. laboratories, companies, and universities. The head of ITER, Dr. Bernard Bigot, was here in Washington, D.C. last week with President Macron to convey the French government's commitment to the project. According to Bigot, the ITER Organization is making progress in project construction. Since March 2015, 32 ITER Council milestones have been achieved on schedule and on budget and the project schedule remains on track for the launch of ITER research operations in 2025. Today, the project component manufacturing and worksite construction is more than halfway complete. According to the research community, a minimum of $163 million in-kind contributions and $50 million cash contributions in fiscal year 2019 are necessary to maintain the scheduled U.S. contribution to this project. The $122 million in funding included for ITER in the recent omnibus is a step in the right direction, but more must be done to ensure that the U.S. will be able to meet its long-term commitments. Reduced annual funding will cause construction delays that will increase overall project costs. If Congress underfunds the ITER project, it will jeopardize American leadership in fusion science. With China and Russia collaborating through ITER to produce and share fusion research, we cannot afford to lose our seat at the table. Nor can we expect to receive international support for our domestically built projects if we do not honor our international obligations. It is imperative that the United States uphold its commitment to ITER and fully fund the fusion research program at DOE. To maintain America's global standing as the leader in science, we must meet our international commitments and support this basic research that will lead to transformative clean energy technologies. Let's bring the power of the stars to Earth!