It’s an honor to be here for the Biden Administration’s third Tribal Nations Summit. As the Secretary of Commerce, I want to acknowledge that the Commerce Department recognizes tribal sovereignty and the fundamental self-governing right of tribes. And I want to reiterate our entire department’s commitment to working and coordinating with tribal communities to ensure they have the resources they need for economic growth.

The Commerce Department’s mission is to create the conditions for economic growth for ALL communities. Thanks to President Biden, we have an unprecedented amount of funding to help invigorate our regional economies, address the climate crisis, and invest in infrastructure. But just as importantly, we are working to ensure that every community benefits – including tribal communities. We’re being intentional about how we are designing our programs and engaging tribes to ensure we address priority needs.

At Commerce, we are laser-focused on building a 21^st century economy – and that starts with high-speed internet. For too long, tribal communities have been cut off from reliable, affordable internet. But that’s changing. Through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, we have awarded over $1.8 billion to more than 220 tribal entities to expand high-speed internet network deployment and digital skills training. In July, we announced another billion in additional funds available for this program.

When I met last year with tribal leaders in Arizona, they told me how these grants are going to transform the way their communities work, learn, and access health care while enabling them to preserve their cultural traditions.

We are also focused on making transformational investments in local economies to create quality jobs, grow small businesses, and expand innovation. For too long, the Federal government left tribal communities to struggle on their own in the face of economic challenges. Government programs offered training for jobs that failed to materialize. Small dollar infrastructure projects failed to grow the economy. The Biden Administration has met the moment by adopting a new approach to community investment.

We created the Good Jobs Challenge, a half billion-dollar program to train and place people into quality jobs. This program starts with quality jobs that exist today and makes sure workers get the support they need to be career ready on day one. In just one example, the Lakota Funds in South Dakota is receiving $5 million to create a construction trades training program for residents of nine tribal reservations. It’s going to address a shortage of housing inventory while providing quality, demand-driven training.

Similarly, we established the $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge to rebuild communities, including those grappling with decades of disinvestment. The Mountain/Plains Regional Native CDFI Coalition, led by the Four Bands Community Fund, is receiving $45 million to grow the indigenous finance sector and expand economic opportunity in tribal communities in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Further, the Economic Development Administration established a first-of-its-kind, $100 million program to support tribal governments and indigenous communities.

Finally, Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking to build climate-ready communities and help them manage crucial natural resources. We have been working to improve our consultation and engagement with tribal communities. This year, after extensive tribal engagement, NOAA set aside $390 million in Inflation Reduction Act funds for tribal priorities, including fish passage, fish hatcheries, and capacity building. These projects will address climate resilience, fisheries, and habitat restoration, which are crucial to the livelihoods of many of the tribal communities along our coasts.

NOAA is also leveraging funds to provide additional support for tribes to protect, conserve, and restore salmon and steelhead populations and their habitats. Just yesterday, we announced the availability of up to $106 million in funding through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, which will support efforts by states and tribes to protect and conserve these key fish species.

NOAA has also advocated for tribal subsistence voices on the Marine Fisheries Management Councils, which regulate and set limits on fishing. And we have signed onto the Joint Secretarial Order committing to tribal co-stewardship of federal lands and waters. It’s going to ensure that NOAA is furthering co-stewardship goals in their management of waters, fisheries, and other resources of significance and value to tribes.

We need to keep working to make sure we get tribal consultation and engagement right. We are building new systems and practices. We are going to keep learning and keep asking for your help.

I’m thrilled we have Shaun Deschene, who is here with me today, serving as our Director of the Office of Native Affairs and Economic Development, a position that had been vacant for more than a decade. Shaun’s work is elevating our efforts in Indian Country and aligning our efforts with President Biden’s strong agenda for tribal nations.

You know your communities’ needs better than anyone. That’s what today is all about. Through all these investments, we look forward to working with you, industry, and across governments to foster economic growth and support entrepreneurship in tribal jurisdictions. Together, we can bring opportunity to our tribal communities and ensure that tribal businesses and workers are equipped for success. Thank you.