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Remarks by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo at the National Governors Association Plenary Session on K-12 Computer Science Education

AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

Thank you for inviting me to speak today. It’s great to see so many familiar faces.

And thank you Governor Hutchinson for your leadership on this issue.

I know there are many governors here today who are fully committed to expanding access to computer science education.

As governor of Rhode Island, I also prioritized computer science education of computer science.

In 2016, we launched CS4RI to ensure that every school in the state offered high-quality computer science learning experiences.

We all recognize that if we want to increase economic prosperity, we must provide every American with the technology and digital skills they need to thrive in today’s economy.

That’s why we’re committed to closing the digital divide.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $65 billion to expand affordable, high-speed broadband in communities across the U.S—and that includes nearly $3 billion in funding for the Digital Equity Act.

In the coming months, each of the states represented here will be tasked with writing Digital Equity Plans.

I encourage you to start thinking about how you will draft plans that provide every one of your constituents with digital skills they need to succeed in education and the workforce.

I also encourage you to start building the infrastructure to take advantage of this historic investment.

Your efforts are crucial to both our recovery from the pandemic and ensuring that America remains competitive in the global economy, and we want to make sure your voices are being heard at the federal level.

I’m pleased to introduce three incredible women who are moving the ball forward and bringing educational training and opportunities to key communities, our panelists Beth Ford, Julie Sweet, and Corie Barry.

I hope this discussion will help all of us better understand best practices among employers and how the private sector and government can work together to close the digital divide.

Leadership