How much heat can a person safely endure? It depends. Much less visible and dramatic than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes, heat is considered the silent killer, affecting the lives and health of people across the country. An average of 702 heat-related deaths occur each year in the United States, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Certain groups of...

Biden-Harris Administration expands agency efforts to ensure operations are increasingly resilient to climate change impacts Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce joined more than 20 federal agencies to release its updated Climate Adaptation Plan and expand the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to ensure federal operations are increasingly resilient to climate change impacts. The updated...

Thank you, Dr. Elliott, for that introduction. Good morning, everyone! I’m pleased to join you all today to speak about our National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s important work in building a climate-ready nation. I’d like to thank Dr. Spinrad and the entire NOAA team for helping make this event possible. Millions of Americans are impacted by extreme heat waves, which are growing in...

Hello everyone! I’m very pleased to be back here today speaking with you all. I’d like to give a big thank you to the BIS team for putting together this remarkable conference. The last time I spoke at this conference was in 2022. Looking back, I don’t think anyone expected that in two years’ time, Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine would still be ongoing. But I believe that is a...

Proposed Budget Supports Key Commerce Department Initiatives and Programs to Increase Access to Good Jobs, Strengthen Competitiveness in the 21st Century Today, the Biden-Harris Administration submitted to Congress the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2025. Following historic progress made since the President took office—with nearly 15 million jobs created and inflation down two-thirds—President...

Hello, everyone! I’m so pleased to be here at the very first US Caribbean Meeting on Extreme Heat – organized by the Caribbean Climate Adaptation Network, one of 13 NOAA CAP/RISA teams and co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation. I’d like to take a moment to recognize Dr. Pablo Mendez-Lazaro, Lead of the Caribbean Climate Adaptation Network, for chairing this summit, as well as Dr. Zheng O...

The mission of the U.S. Department of Commerce is to create the conditions for inclusive economic growth and opportunity for all Americans. Last week, in conjunction with Black History Month, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Deputy Secretary Don Graves participated in several events that echo this mission and showcase the Department’s leading role in building an economy in which all can...

As we welcome 2024, we have compiled a list of the top stories which not only generated the most attention in 2023, but also encompassed the Commerce Department’s mission to create conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all Americans. These stories reflect many of Commerce’s top priorities and accomplishments for the year including bringing affordable, reliable high-speed Internet...

U.S. Department of Commerce signs Memorandum of Understanding to shape President Biden’s American Climate Corps    Administration announces listening sessions in January to hear directly from prospective applicants Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking critical steps to advance the American Climate Corps, a landmark initiative announced by President Biden earlier this year to train the...

Last week, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves traveled to Wisconsin, highlighting the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic place-based programs addressing systemic inequalities. Graves also facilitated discussions with community leaders about the Biden Administration and the Commerce Department’s investments in climate resilience, internet access, and trade. The trip underscored the...