The Latest News

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo Highlights Key 2021 Departmental Accomplishments

Last week, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo issued the following statement highlighting key accomplishments at the Department of Commerce since the Biden-Harris administration took office on January 20, 2021. The U.S. Department of Commerce also released a fact sheet highlighting detailed accomplishments from each of the Bureaus.

Commerce Awards $4.2 Million to Expand Broadband for Tribal Communities in Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo recently announced that the Department will be awarding $4.2 million to Tribal communities in Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, and Wisconsin in order for them to build broadband infrastructure and increase connectivity on Tribal lands.

Sneezes, Rain Clouds and Ink Jets: NIST Improves the Ability of Optical Microscopes to Measure the Volume of Microdroplets

Sneezes, rain clouds, and ink jet printers: They all produce or contain liquid droplets so tiny it would take several billion of them to fill a liter bottle. Measuring the volume, motion and contents of microscopic droplets is important for studying how airborne viruses spread (including those that cause COVID-19), how clouds reflect sunlight to cool the Earth, how ink jet printers create finely detailed patterns, and even how a soda bottle fragments into nanoscale plastic particles that pollute the oceans.

Commerce Acts to Deter Misuse of Biotechnology, Other U.S. Technologies by the People’s Republic of China to Support Surveillance and Military Modernization that Threaten National Security

The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) took action to address the ongoing threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy presented by the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s efforts to develop and deploy biotechnology and other technologies for military applications and human rights abuses. BIS is also taking action against entities operating in the PRC, Georgia, Malaysia, and Turkey for diverting or attempting to divert U.S. items to Iran’s military programs.

Commerce Adds Export Controls on Cambodia to Address Corruption, Human Rights Abuses, and Regional Security Concerns

The Department of Commerce announced new restrictions to address human rights abuses and corruption by Cambodian government actors, including the military, as well as the growing influence of the People’s Republic of China’s military in Cambodia. Commerce has placed new restrictions, including end-use and end-user restrictions, on exports and reexports to Cambodia, and in-country transfers within Cambodia, of sensitive items subject to the Export Administration Regulations.

Registration Open for SelectUSA Investment Summit Taking Place in June at National Harbor

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced today registration is open for SelectUSA’s Annual Investment Summit, which will take place June 26-29, 2022, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the largest event dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States.

Department of Commerce Establishes Industrial Advisory Committee for Microelectronics

The U.S. Commerce Department has established a high-level committee to advise the United States government on matters related to microelectronics research, development, manufacturing and policy and is now seeking to recruit top-level candidates to serve on the committee.

Commerce by the Numbers

National Broadband Availability Map Reaches 40 State, U.S. Territory Participants

Over the last few months, NTIA’s National Broadband Availability Map has added Nevada, Louisiana, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico to its growing roster of participants. To date, the NBAM includes 38 states, two U.S. territories, and five federal agencies: US Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Economic Development Administration and the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Introducing New State and International Statistics and More

Throughout, December, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis has been introducing new state and international data, as well as an expansion of our prototype statistics on the distribution of personal income across U.S. households. Look for two more new data tables with Thursday's International Investment Position release.

U.S. Population Grew 0.1% in 2021, Slowest Rate Since Founding of the Nation

The U.S. population grew at a slower rate in 2021 than in any other year since the founding of the nation, based on historical decennial censuses and annual population estimates.

The December 2021 Tornado Outbreak, Explained

The tornadoes that ripped across the central and southern U.S. late in the evening of December 10, 2021, were notable in many ways. The thunderstorms and tornadoes they produced traveled far — sometimes far more than 100 miles — and the impacts were widespread. NOAA's National Weather Service has confirmed 61 tornadoes as of December 18.

In Case You Missed It

Marisa Lago Sworn in as Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade

Marisa Lago, President Joseph R. Biden’s nominee for Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, was officially sworn in yesterday. Lago will lead the International Trade Administration (ITA), the Commerce Department bureau that assists American businesses entering or expanding into international markets, enforces fair trade laws, promotes travel and tourism to the United States.

December 7, 2021

NIST Awards More Than $3.5 Million to High-Tech Small Businesses to Support Innovations in Manufacturing, Medical Diagnostics and More

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology has awarded more than $3.5 million in funding to 17 U.S. small businesses for advancing technologies in manufacturing, privacy, medical diagnostics and more. The funding was awarded through NIST’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and goes to businesses in 10 states.

January 12-13, 2022

Complying with U.S. Export Controls

This two-day program is led by BIS's professional counseling staff and provides an in-depth examination of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The program will cover the information exporters need to know to comply with U.S. export control requirements on commercial goods, and other items subject to the EAR.