Senate Homeland Security approves Hassan-Portman bill on ‘quantum computing cyber preparedness’

The Senate Homeland Security Committee has approved legislation designed to support long-term efforts on shifting federal systems to “post-quantum cryptography” as advances in quantum computing threaten to render current security methods obsolete.

The committee by voice vote on Wednesday approved the “Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act,” H.R. 4592, by Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Homeland Security ranking member Rob Portman (R-OH).

The measure was introduced by Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) in the House and has already cleared that chamber....