NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting another above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. Forecasters predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. However, experts do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020. For 2021, a likely range of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher)...

Hello everyone! It’s great to be here with you. Thank you, Ben, for that introduction and your continued leadership. Nearly all of us have witnessed the impact that weather can have on our communities. Some of us view weather events as a mere nuisance – extra rain that slows traffic or snow that forces us to adjust plans for the day. But I’ve seen, first-hand, the devastating impact that extreme...

Guest blog post by Hannah Wang, Primary Patent Examiner, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) As a primary patent examiner at the Commerce Department's United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), I handle patent applications in the area of computer networking. In addition, I have the privilege of currently serving as president of the Asian Pacific American Network (APANET), one of the...

Guest blog post by Ava Jamerson, International Trade Specialist, International Trade Administration I am an International Trade Specialist and professional communicator in the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration’s Enforcement and Compliance (E&C) unit. In this role, I help U.S. industries, media and the public understand the work we do to support a free, fair, and rules-based...

The Department of Commerce is calling for nominations for the fourth annual Sustainability, Energy, and Environmental (SEE) Ambassadors program. The SEE Ambassadors program recognizes individual Departmental employees for outstanding performance in implementing exceptional projects or programs helping the Department meet sustainability, energy and water reduction, clean energy, climate change...

Cabinet members, CEOs, and global investors gather to drive business interest to America U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will host the 2021 SelectUSA Investment Summit, June 7-11, to be held virtually for the first time. She will be joined by several Cabinet members, Governors, top CEOs and small business leaders seeking to attract global companies to invest in the U.S. economy and...

Guest blog post by Thomas Choi, International Program Specialist, Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) I am humbled to write a blog post in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and to share my story, especially now, when this month is more important than ever. My name is Thomas Jungwoo Choi, and I serve as an International Program Specialist for the U.S. Department of...

Guest blog post by MiYong Kim, Operating Committee Chair, Bureau of Industry and Security I am the Chair of the Operating Committee (OC) at the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). In that role, I chair the interagency body that resolves contentious license applications related to munitions parts and components and exports of dual-use items including commodity, technology...