In 2021, during Native American Heritage Month, President Biden signed the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) which provided over $65 billion to bring affordable, high-speed internet to every American. This funding also added an additional $2 billion to the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) for broadband deployment on Tribal lands, as well as for telehealth, education...

Earlier this week, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo gave virtual remarks at a National Apprenticeship Week event hosted by Metaverse where she underlined the Biden Administration’s commitment to America’s workforce by creating direct pathways to good-paying jobs. “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the federal government is investing more than a trillion dollars in...

In honor of Veterans Day, the Department of Commerce hosted an event to honor the more than 5,000 veteran employees, their family members, and those who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. The event also showcased the Department’s commitment to recruiting and hiring more veterans to the Commerce workforce. During the event, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Deputy Secretary Don...

America’s diversity has always been our nation’s greatest strength and we must continue to leverage capabilities from all people. People with disabilities have long strengthened our economy and expanded our Nation’s possibilities. The growing popularity of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is opening new doors that are enhancing the work capabilities and performance for persons with disabilities. In...

Minority entrepreneurs make critical contributions to our economy generating nearly $2 trillion in revenue each year. However, an equity gap remains between minority and non-minority-owned businesses. Last week, Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves spoke about the need to close this equity gap at the 40 th Annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week . Hosted by Commerce’s Minority Business...

By Renee Gordon, FirstNet Authority Board Vice Chair Being a first responder is not for the faint of heart. Every day, you are put to the test – in mind, body, and spirit. You must be willing to sacrifice everything in service of others. First responders are true heroes. On October 28, we celebrate National First Responders Day and the bravery and dedication of our nation’s heroes. The law of...

By Ryan A. Higgins, Department of Commerce Chief Information Security Officer The 20 th anniversary of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an excellent reminder that not only are cyber threats still a serious issue, but they have also grown and become more sophisticated. Thankfully, protecting ourselves online has been made easier than ever with the adoption of new technologies to...

Consumer Confidence on Rise as Americans Make and Spend More Today, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported third quarter real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 4.9%, exceeding expectations. The increase in GDP is in large part due to Americans spending and making more. Consumer confidence is strong. Today’s report shows consumer spending...