Commerce Dept.

May 8, 2009 -- GAITHERSBURG, Md. – The U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has received Congressional approval on its recovery plan to create jobs, strengthen the economy and encourage innovation.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), NIST was granted $580 million in direct appropriations, along with an additional $30 million transferred to NIST from other federal agencies, to invest in construction projects, grants, scientific equipment and research fellowships.    » read more »

May 8, 2009 -- GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota Governor John Hoeven signed Senate Bill 2018 today, the North Dakota Commerce Department budget bill that continues the state’s strategic investments in economic, community and workforce development that have helped make North Dakota one of the strongest and most stable economies in the nation. The budget provides $185 million to further grow and diversify North Dakota’s economy. Hoeven was joined for the signing by area legislators and university officials at UND Aerospace in Grand Forks.    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the two departments are revoking an eleventh-hour Bush administration rule that undermined Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections. Their decision requires federal agencies to once again consult with federal wildlife experts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – the two agencies that administer the ESA – before taking any action that may affect threatened or endangered species.    » read more »

Statement by Francesca Grifo

April 28, 2009 -- Today, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar rescinded eleventh-hour Bush administration changes to Endangered Species Act regulations that allowed federal agencies to decide for themselves if their own projects—such as roads and dams—would threaten imperiled species. Federal agencies again will be required to consult with expert biologists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or National Marine Fisheries Service before undertaking or permitting new projects.

The rule change was just one of several controversial Bush administration actions that undermined the scientific foundation of the Endangered Species Act, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).    » read more »

Interior and Commerce Secretaries Must Act by May 9

April 27, 2009 -- More than 1,300 federal and independent scientists with biological expertise and three leading scientific societies today called on the Interior and Commerce departments to overturn rule changes made in January that weaken the scientific foundation of the Endangered Species Act.    » read more »

April 21, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration posts: William E. Spriggs, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Department of Labor; and Rebecca M. Blank, Under Secretary for Economics Affairs, Department of Commerce.

President Obama said, "It gives me great confidence that these talented individuals have chosen to serve our country in my administration. Their dedication and commitment will make them valued assets to our team, and I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years."

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals today:

William E. Spriggs, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Department of Labor    » read more »

April 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration posts: Daniel B. Poneman, Deputy Secretary, Department of Energy; Fred P. Hochberg, President and Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States; Francisco "Frank" J. Sánchez, Under Secretary for International Trade, Department of Commerce; Miriam E. Sapiro, Deputy Trade Representative; Judith A. McHale, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Department of State; Philip J. "P.J." Crowley, Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, Department of State; Bonnie D.    » read more »

Says Misguided Project Is “Down for the Count”; U.S. Dept. of Commerce rules in favor of N.Y. action to deny approval

April 13, 2009 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today hailed a federal decision on the proposed Broadwater liquefied natural gas platform as a “knockout” blow for the project.

“With the U.S. Department of Commerce now upholding an action by New York state to deny a coastal consistency approval for Broadwater this misguided project is now down for the count. The words of the Secretary of Commerce speak loud and clear and deliver a decisive verdict: that the national interests served by Broadwater do not outweigh the adverse impact it would have on coastal waters.”    » read more »

March 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON — The United States Senate this evening confirmed Gary Locke as the nation’s 36th Commerce Secretary by unanimous consent. Secretary Locke will be a key member of President Obama’s economic team and will work to foster and promote American economic development at home, and will be an influential ambassador for American business and industry abroad. Locke is the first Chinese American to serve as Commerce Secretary.

“I’m honored to take on this challenge and will work every day to make the Commerce Department an engine for improving our competitiveness, encouraging innovation and creating jobs,” Locke said.    » read more »

March 11, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- As part of the U.S. Commerce Department’s appropriation under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 recently signed by President Obama, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced the availability of $150 million to create jobs and boost development in parts of the country hit hard by the recession. The Federal Funding Opportunity notice, which was published today in the Federal Register, may be viewed at: www.eda.gov/InvestmentsGrants/FFON.xml.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, March 10, 2009 - U.S. Department of Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack, Acting Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Copps and U.S. Dept. of Commerce Senior Advisor and Acting Chief of Staff Rick Wade kicked off the joint broadband initiative under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act today and announced a series of public meetings that will give Americans an opportunity to help shape the program.    » read more »

February 25th, 2009 -- Today, President Barack Obama officially nominated former Washington Governor Gary Locke for Secretary of Commerce. In this key role on the administration’s economic team, Locke will work to foster and promote the nation’s economic development at home, and serve as an influential ambassador for American industry abroad.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will save or create three and a half million jobs over the next two years, and 90 percent of these jobs will be created in the private sector. As Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Locke will ensure American workers can prosper, businesses can thrive, and the economy can grow.    » read more »

February 25, 2008 -- WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Commerce will receive $7.9 billion to create and save jobs for American workers as part of the historic economic stimulus bill recently signed by President Barack Obama.

“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is the most sweeping economic recovery package in our history,” said President Obama, noting it will create or save 3.5 million jobs over the next two years. “We have begun the essential work of keeping the American Dream alive in our time.”    » read more »

February 12th, 2009 -- Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) has withdrawn from consideration as the nominee for Secretary of Commerce.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs released the following statement:

"Senator Gregg reached out to the President and offered his name for Secretary of Commerce. He was very clear throughout the interviewing process that despite past disagreements about policies, he would support, embrace, and move forward with the President’s agenda. Once it became clear after his nomination that Senator Gregg was not going to be supporting some of President Obama’s key economic priorities, it became necessary for Senator Gregg and the Obama administration to part ways. We regret that he has had a change of heart".

Source: White House

February 3rd, 2009 -- President Obama called Republican Senator Judd Gregg a "master of reaching across the aisle" in announcing him as his choice to lead the Commerce Department today.

"Clearly, Judd and I don't agree on every issue -- most notably who should have won the election," President Obama said. "But we agree on the urgent need to get American businesses and families back on their feet. We see eye to eye on conducting the nation's business in a responsible, transparent, and accountable manner. And we know the only way to solve the great challenges of our time is to put aside stale ideology and petty partisanship, and embrace what works."    » read more »