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Credit: Texas Engineering Extension Service
NIST Holds Rescue Robot Exercise to Evaluate Mechanical Rescuers
Gaithersburg, Md. (Nov. 26)—The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) held a rescue robot exercise in Texas last week in which about three dozen robots were tested by developers and first responders in order to develop a standard suite of performance tests to help evaluate candidate mechanical rescuers. This exercise was sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate to develop performance standards for robots for use in urban search and rescue missions. (More)
NOAA-Supported Mission Discovers Historic Shipwreck Off Turks and Caicos Islands
Washington (Nov. 25)—Maritime archaeologists today announced they have recently identified the wreck of the historic slave ship Trouvadore off the coast of East Caicos in the Turks and Caicos Islands. NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research significantly funded several years of archaeological research leading to the discovery by Don Keith and Toni Carrell, from Ships of Discovery, an underwater archaeology research institute. (More)
Secretary Paulson Discusses Announcement to Support Consumer Lending Market
Washington (Nov. 25)—Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. discussed at a press conference this morning the announcement of $20 billion to back a lending facility for the consumer asset backed securities market established by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The announcement is available via webcast here. The asset backed securities market provides liquidity to financial institutions that provide small business loans and consumer lending such as auto loans, student loans, and credit cards. (More)
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Statement by Secretary Gutierrez on Third Quarter GDP
Washington (Nov. 25)—U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez released the following statement on the preliminary estimate of real gross domestic product (GDP), which showed that the U.S. economy decreased at an annual rate of 0.5 percent in the third quarter of 2008: “Today’s GDP report reaffirms the serious challenges in our economy. We are in the midst of global financial turmoil. Americans are worried about their job security, their home values, their savings and retirement accounts, and their ability to get loans to pay for college education or cars.” (More)
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Secretary Gutierrez Joins President Bush in Announcing 2008 Baldrige National Quality Awards Winners
Washington (Nov. 25)—Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez joined President George W. Bush in announcing the 2008 winners of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest Presidential honor for organizational innovation and performance excellence. “I am pleased to join President Bush in announcing these three outstanding organizations that have been named to receive this year’s Baldrige Award,” Gutierrez said. (More) (Message from President Bush)
NOAA’s U.S. Winter Outlook Calls for Variability
Washington (Nov. 20)—In announcing the 2008-2009 U.S. Winter Outlook for meteorological winter from December through February, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center are calling for warmer-than-normal temperatures for much of the central part of the nation, and a continuation of drier-than-normal conditions across the Southeast. The U.S. Winter Outlook does not include a snowfall forecast. (More)
USPTO Joins NIHFF and Ad Council in Launching Invention PSA Contest
Washington (Nov. 20)—The Commerce Department’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation (NIHFF) have teamed with the Ad Council to announce the “Inspiring Invention” public service advertising (PSA) development contest to engage a new generation of children in innovation. This contest is part of the Ad Council’s “Inspiring Invention” campaign, sponsored by the USPTO and NIHFF. The contest is open to school groups at the elementary, middle and high school levels nationwide. (More)
NOAA Declares October Second Warmest for Global Temperatures
Washington (Nov. 18)—The combined global land and ocean surface average temperature for October 2008 was the second warmest since records began in 1880, according to a preliminary analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center. NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. (More)
Secretary Gutierrez Speaks to American Entrepreneurs About Administration’s Trade Accomplishments
Washington (Nov. 18)—U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez spoke about the importance of trade—and its role in ensuring our nation’s future prosperity at a Small Business Administration (SBA) trade symposium. “Exports were $1 trillion in 2001. At present rates, America’s exports will be approaching $2 trillion this year… and exports account for essentially all the growth in our economy so far this year,” Gutierrez said. An important step that will give our economy the stimulus it urgently needs would be passing the three pending free trade agreements before Congress, especially Colombia. (Remarks) (Video) (Fact Sheet)
Secretary Gutierrez Congratulates 2008 Corporate Citizenship Award Winners
Washington (Nov. 18)—Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez addressed business leaders at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Annual Corporate Citizenship Awards Dinner. The awards honor businesses that are making our communities better places for people to work and live, and are having a genuine impact on our society and our world. Secretary Gutierrez thanked this year’s winners for their efforts in giving back to local communities.