Thank you, Assistant Secretary Castillo, for that introduction. I am thrilled to join you this afternoon to see the extraordinary collaboration that you have undertaken to deliver transformative economic opportunity across the country. The Build Back Better Regional Challenge is the marquee of EDA’s American Rescue Plan programs and represents the Biden Administration’s commitment to rebuilding...

Today, Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo met with the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (Board) to provide an overview of the new National Travel and Tourism Strategy (Strategy), expected to be released in early June. She thanked the Board for its work in this area – in particular, recommending a new five-year international visitation and spending goal that was adopted by the...

A joint blog by ITA Under Secretary Marisa Lago & NOAA Under Secretary and Administrator Richard Spinrad For more than half a century, communities worldwide have gathered in late April to take part in acts of science, service and stewardship in celebration of Earth Day. At the Department of Commerce, Earth Day—and Earth Month—offer an important moment to shine a spotlight on the global ocean, the...

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced a Department Administrative Order (DAO), directing the Department to integrate climate considerations into its policies, strategic planning, and programs. This historic DAO also establishes the Department of Commerce Climate Council to coordinate and oversee the implementation of this DAO, as well as provide specific recommendations to...

Photos above submitted by (top row left to right): Lydia Wasmer, NOAA; Libby Gilbert-Horvath, NOAA; Jennifer Leo, NOAA; (bottom row left to right): Diane Pancoska, NOAA contractor; Krishnan Menon, USPTO; John Kim, USPTO Happy Earth Day from the Department’s Office of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Programs (OSEEP)! OSEEP received more than 100 inspiring submissions in the 2022 Earth Day...

Today, Secretary Gina M. Raimondo met with European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis to discuss U.S.-EU cooperation on imposing costs on Russia in response to its unlawful invasion of Ukraine. They also discussed progress made within the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council’s (TTC) working groups ahead of the TTC Ministerial in France on May 15-16. Secretary Raimondo stated...

Today, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod issued an order temporarily denying all export privileges for the Russian cargo aircraft carrier Aviastar due to ongoing violations of the comprehensive export controls imposed on Russia by the Commerce Department. Headquartered in Moscow, Aviastar provides a variety of cargo services to...

Today, Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo met with Singapore Minister of Finance Lawrence Wong to follow up on developments since Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s visit to the United States in March. During their meeting, Secretary Raimondo and Minister Wong shared views on the U.S.-Singapore bilateral commercial relationship, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, and the global business...