Post Quantum Cybersecurity Standards Act

This bill seeks to accelerate the deployment of post-quantum cryptography standards across the United States economy by amending existing legislation. It updates the National Quantum Initiative Act by defining key terms like "critical infrastructure" and "post-quantum cryptography," which refers to cryptographic algorithms resilient to both quantum and classical computer attacks. The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security and sector risk management agencies, is directed to promote the voluntary adoption of these standards through disseminating guidance, providing resources, and offering technical assistance to high-risk entities such as critical infrastructure providers. Additionally, the bill authorizes NIST to establish a grant program, subject to appropriations, to provide financial and technical assistance to entities at high risk of quantum cryptoanalytic attacks for adopting post-quantum cryptographic standards and remediating vulnerabilities. NIST would develop guidance for this program and consult with relevant agencies and private sector entities. Furthermore, the Cyber Security Research and Development Act is amended to ensure that the National Science Foundation's cryptography research explicitly includes post-quantum cryptography , thereby bolstering foundational research in this critical area.