Today, Gina M. Raimondo was sworn in as the 40th U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Secretary Raimondo was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris after a bipartisan vote of 84-15 in the United States Senate. In her role as Secretary of Commerce, Raimondo will lead a key agency focused on promoting economic growth, which includes the International Trade Administration, the Bureau of Industry and...

The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is adding 14 entities located in Russia, Germany, and Switzerland to the Entity List based on their proliferation activities in support of Russia’s weapons of mass destruction programs and chemical weapons activities. This action supplements the addition of five Russian Government facilities to the Entity List in August 2020 for...

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced additional key leadership appointments under the Biden-Harris Administration. The diverse and accomplished group brings a vast array of experiences and perspectives to the Department and join a growing team ready to foster more equitable economic growth and advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s key priorities. “We are excited for this experienced group...

Today, the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration announced over $70 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance, Disaster Recovery, and Public Works Program grants to support businesses and communities adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic and natural disasters, and bolster public works projects to spur economic growth. These grants provide critical gap financing for...

The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) implemented a series of restrictions on exports of sensitive items to Burma’s Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Home Affairs, armed forces, and security services in response to the Burmese military’s actions to overthrow the democratically elected civilian government of Burma. Effective immediately, BIS will apply a presumption...

On a brisk November morning in 2018, a fire sparked in a remote stretch of canyon in Butte County, California, a region nestled against the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Fueled by a sea of tinder created by drought, and propelled by powerful gusts, the flames grew and traveled rapidly. In less than 24 hours, the fire had swept through the town of Paradise and other communities...

The same NOAA satellites that helped forecasters track weather and wildfires were also critical in rescuing a record 421 people from potentially life-threatening situations throughout the United States and its surrounding waters in 2019. NOAA’s polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites are part of the global Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking System, or COSPAS-SARSAToffsite link , which...

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced new appointees to lead the agency under the Biden-Harris Administration. The appointments represent a diverse and accomplished group of individuals who are committed to advancing the economy for all Americans. In partnership with dedicated career civil servants, these key appointments will work to promote job creation and economic growth while also...