The following is a cross-post from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Record-setting summer heat baked the typically cooler Pacific Northwest. The third busiest hurricane season on record sent eight storms barreling into the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Devastating, record-setting tornadoes brought hundreds of miles of destruction across eight states in December. Tropical...

Robert Santos was sworn in today as the U.S. Census Bureau’s 26th director, becoming the first Latino person to serve in the role. This appointment follows the U.S. Senate confirmation Nov. 4, 2021, with Santos’ term set to last for five years. “Mr. Santos is a tremendous leader and I have full confidence that he will lead the Census Bureau with integrity in the years ahead,” said Secretary of...

Firefighters, police officers, and other public safety workers could use data from multiple internet-connected devices to save lives. However, most off-the-shelf technology doesn’t work for public safety users. Imagine firefighters crawling on their hands and knees through a smoky environment; they can’t tactilely handle — let alone see — a smartphone to access maps or building data or receive...

First responders need to make fast decisions based on the best information they have available. Police, fire, and EMS crews usually rely on radio communication channels along with dispatch and eyewitness reports for that information. But this is the Internet Age. As data from the Internet of Things devices become more prevalent, public safety could use that data to save more lives. The Internet of...

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) estimates that the global sale of counterfeit goods is above $2 trillion . The damage they cause goes well beyond economic repercussions for honest businesses and consumers – counterfeits are cause for serious safety concerns. This is especially important as retailers and their customers are in the midst of the holiday shopping season. Keep...

As Secretary of Commerce, one of the first events I had the pleasure of hosting was one of the Department’s largest and longstanding – the annual SelectUSA Investment Summit. Organizing a well-known and typically widely attended international summit during a global pandemic seemed like an insurmountable task, but this past June the Department of Commerce rose to the challenge. We safely welcomed...

Spotlight on Commerce highlights members of the Native American community within the U.S. Department of Commerce in honor of National Native American Heritage Month.

This month and every month, we honor the precious, strong, and enduring cultures and contributions of all Native Americans and recommit ourselves to fulfilling the full promise of our Nation together. President Biden
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As entrepreneurship month comes to a close, the Department of Commerce remains laser focused on creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to innovate across the U.S. While the majority of startups are within cities like Boston, New York and San Francisco, we at the Commerce department know that there are untapped sources of innovation within unconventional startup cities. We are committed to...