Bipartisan Momentum Behind Reauthorizing Quantum Legislation
Last month, both Senate and House committees passed bipartisan bills that will reauthorize and expand 2018 National Quantum Initiative legislation. The bills must still be passed by the full chambers and reconciled, but there is strong momentum to push this legislation over the finish line and send it to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
If enacted, the bill will help further strengthen U.S. leadership in this emerging technology, which will increasingly play a role in computing, cybersecurity, and communications. It includes provisions focused on workforce development, partnerships with allied nations, and R&D.
For more information on what’s at stake with quantum and quantum policy priorities, check out VFI’s Quantum Computing issue page.
AI Training Collaboration Focuses on Skilled Trades
North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) and Microsoft recently announced that they would expand their partnership to help workers in the building and construction trades add AI skills. As part of the initiative, workers can access no-cost AI literacy courses and earn AI credentials. In addition, non-profit TradesFutures will incorporate AI literacy into their apprenticeship readiness network program, which operates in 34 states. For additional discussion about this collaboration, see this Microsoft on the Issues blog.
More on AI Skilling: NSF Establishes Program for AI Literacy
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has launched the TechAccess: AI-Ready America initiative, which will establish AI-ready Coordination Hubs in every U.S. state, territory, and D.C. The program will focus on building workforce AI literacy, supporting AI adoption by small businesses and local governments, and supporting pathways from AI skilling to real-world use. Each hub will receive funding over at least three years.
Cybersecurity: FBI Digital Crimes Report Highlights Threat Landscape
In April, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) published its annual report showing rising financial losses—reaching $20.9 billion in 2025—from digital crime. IC3 receives nearly 3,000 cybercrime complaints daily, though not all victims report incidents.
Investment-related fraud, business email compromise, and tech support scams are the three largest drivers of losses. In addition, the report notes that every area of critical infrastructure—including healthcare, financial services, government, and manufacturing—was targeted by ransomware attacks.
Video: VFI Leaders Discuss AI Policymaking
Voices for Innovation recently released a video with members of our Advisory Task Force sharing their views about AI—and what lawmakers should consider when developing AI policies. Check it out on LinkedIn.