Public Resources

Agency description:

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is charged with promoting economic growth and jobs for the nation.

Website:

www.commerce.gov

Enabling Statute:

“There shall be at the seat of government an executive department to be known as the Department of Commerce, and a Secretary of Commerce, who shall be the head thereof, who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and whose term and tenure of office shall be like that of the heads of the other executive departments; and the provisions of title 4 of the Revised Statutes, including all amendments thereto, shall be applicable to said department. The said Secretary shall cause a seal of office to be made for the said department of such device as the President shall approve, and judicial notice shall be taken of the said seal.” 15 U.S.C. § 1501

Key issues:

Economic analysis and development; international trade; intellectual property; Census; faith-based and neighborhood partnerships; Native American affairs.

Sub-agencies:

Bureau of Economic Analysis; Bureau of Industry and Security; Bureau of the Census; Economic Development Administration; Economics and Statistics Administration; International Trade Administration; Office of Marine and Aviation Operations; Minority Business Development Agency; National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service; National Institute of Standards and Technology; National Marine Fisheries Service; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Ocean Service; National Technical Information Service; National Telecommunications and Information Administration; National Weather Service; Patent & Trademark Office

Agency description:

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) provides statistical information to promote a better understanding of the current status of U.S. economy.

Website:

www.bea.gov

Key issues:

Gross Domestic Product (GDP), national, state, and local; levels of personal income; balance of payments; GDP by industry.

Agency description:

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) seeks to promote national security and achieve economic goals in foreign policy through export control, treaty compliance, and technology leadership.

Website:

www.bis.doc.gov

Key issues:

Encryption; high performance computers; multilateral exports; antiboycott efforts; Wassenaar Arrangement.

Agency description:

The Bureau of the Census collects and provides information about the population and economy.

Website:

www.census.gov

Key issues:

Population and housing census every ten years; economic census every five years; government census every five years; annual American community survey; economic indicators.

Agency description:

The Economic Development Administration promotes community economic growth with a goal of increasing the nation’s economic competitiveness overall.

Website:

www.eda.gov

Key issues:

Public works and economic development; strategic development; revolving loan fund capitalization; economic planning for local and regional groups, such as Indian Tribes; trade adjustment assistance in response to increased imports; Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund.

Agency description:

The Economics and Statistics Administration oversees the work of the Bureau of the Census, and works with BEA to provide economic analysis and reports.

Website:

www.esa.doc.gov

Key issues:

Women-owned businesses; cost of living; economic recovery following a regional disaster.

Agency description:

The International Trade Administration (ITA) promotes fair trade and international investment.

Website:

www.trade.gov

Key issues:

Market information and access; trade counseling and advocacy; business matchmaking; intellectual property and piracy; strategies for increasing U.S. exports; antidumping investigations.

Agency description:

The Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) is an office of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that uses specialized aircraft to collect data relevant to NOAA’s environmental and scientific research.

Website:

www.omao.noaa.gov

Key issues:

Hydrographic surveys; hurricane and weather research; coastal charting; predictions of flood and snow melt areas; fishery research; marine mammal assessments.

Agency description:

The Minority Business Development Agency promotes the establishment and growth of businesses owned minorities.

Website:

www.mbda.gov

Key issues:

Contract opportunities; strategic business consulting; access to commercial lending and credit; client assessment, market analysis, and financial management.

Agency description:

The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) provides global environmental data collected via satellite.

Website:

www.nesdis.noaa.gov

Key issues:

Wildlife monitoring; space commercialization; search and rescue satellite aided tracking.

Agency description:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a federal physical science research laboratory.

Website:

www.nist.gov

Key issues:

Calibration services; computer security; measurement services; standards development and conformity; traceability; weights and measures.

Agency description:

The National Marine Fisheries Service is the branch of NOAA responsible for the conservation of marine resources in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.

Website:

www.nmfs.noaa.gov

Key issues:

Sustainable aquaculture; seafood inspection; sustainable fisheries; commercial fishing.

Agency description:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) researches changes in the oceans, weather, climate, and coastal areas to protect and conserve resources.

Website:

www.noaa.gov

Key issues:

Healthy oceans; climate change; weather; commercial fishing; coastal communities; marine mammal protection.

Agency description:

The National Ocean Service is a part of NOAA that deals with potential problems in coast areas such as port congestion, population growth, environmental contaminants, and climate change.

Website:

oceanservice.noaa.gov

Key issues:

Gulf spill restoration; coral reefs; marine protected areas; National Marine Sanctuary System; coasting monitoring; natural hazards; disaster response; ecological forecasting; tides and currents.

Agency description:

The National Technical Information Service publishes government-funded research in the areas of science, engineering, technology, and buiness.

Website:

www.ntis.gov

Key issues:

Technical reports on over 350 subject areas.

Agency description:

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration advises the President on telecommunications policy and researches technical aspects of telecommunications issues.

Website:

www.ntia.doc.gov

Key issues:

Spectrum management; infrastructure development; domestic telecommunications competition; broadband.

Agency description:

The National Weather Service is a branch of NOAA that provides warnings and forecasts of weather events.

Website:

www.nws.noaa.gov

Key issues:

Air quality; severe weather systems; TsunamiReady warning system.

Agency description:

The Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) regulates U.S. patents and registered trademarks.

Website:

www.uspto.gov

Key issues:

Applications for patents and trademarks; international protection of U.S. patents and trademarks.