Department+of+Commerce

=US Department of Commerce=

Table of Contents

 * 1) Mission Statement
 * 2) Positions of Leadership
 * 3) History
 * 4) Budget
 * 5) Related Articles



Mission Statement
The mission of the US Department of Commerce is "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce". The general purpose of the Department of Commerce in addition to helping the president with the creation of national policy, is to promote US business and commerce both inside the United States and in other countries.



Positions of Leadership

 * Secretary of Commerce
 * Gary Locke
 * Under Secretary for Industry and Security
 * Daniel O. Hill
 * Under Secretary for Economic Affairs
 * Currently Vacant
 * Assistant Secretary for Economic Development
 * Currently Vacant
 * Under Secretary for International Trade
 * Michelle O'Neill
 * Under Secretary and Administrator for NOAA
 * Jane Lubchenco
 * Under Secretary For Intellectual Property and Director
 * John Doll



History of the Department
The Department of Commerce and Labor was founded in 1903 by an act of Congress. Within the next three years the bureaus of Manufactures and Immigration were created as subsections of the Department of Commerce. In 1913 the official name of the Department changed to drop the "and Labor" portion because the labor portion of the department was spun off into its own department, The Department of Labor. In 1925 the Patent Office and the Bureau of Mines were both transfered to become part of the Department of Commerce by Executive Order. For a short time in 1931 the Department of Commerce was in charge of the national airwaves thorough their short lived radio division whose power was quickly transferred to the Federal Communications Commission a year later. In 1934 the Bureau of Air Commerce was officially formed from the Aeronautics branch and 2 years later it took over control of the entire nations air traffic control. In 1940 the weather bureau was moved from the department of agriculture to the department of commerce. During the late 1940s the Department of Commerce underwent several different restructuring and reorganizing programs to reshape the department. The Department of Commerce was part of an effort in the mid 1950s that provided funding for a major renovation of the federal highway system. During the 1980s a new branch called the "Technology Administration" was formed to oversee the role of technology in commerce within the country. As you can see the department of commerece has evolved from its original state to constantly adapt to the changing needs of the country. It becomes involoved in anything that relates to commerce involoving the United States.

Source: http://www.commerce.gov/About_Us/Milestones/index.htm



Budget
The 2009 budget for the Department of Commerce focuses on several issues that are important transitional issues in the United States today. One of these things that the department helps facilitate is the switch to digital television. The 2009 budget includes money to help fund that program as well as funds to help promote free trade and funds to work to stop piracy. Another important program within the Department of Commerce is a science research program that will help to bring the US to the forefront of scientific research. The 2009 budget also includes money to improve weather monitoring equipment to better track the planet's climate and make better forecasts. The budget also includes money to help setup resources that will be used in the upcoming census next year. This year brings a reduction in funding two six other programs within the department that are either over funded or are no longer nessicary. Bellow is a table provided by the Department of Commerce that breaks down their budget in extensive detail. Actual || 2008 || 2009 Estimate || Council || — || — || 1 || Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2009/commerce.html
 * **Spending** (in millions) || 2007
 * Discretionary Budget Authority: ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Departmental Management: ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Salaries and Expenses || 49 || 44 || 61 ||
 * Emergency Steel Guaranteed Loan Program || — || — || −49 ||
 * Headquarters Renovation || — || 4 || 7 ||
 * National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination
 * Office of the Inspector General || 23 || 22 || 25 ||
 * Subtotal, Departmental Management || 72 || 70 || 45 ||
 * Economic Development Administration || 281 || 274 || 133 ||
 * Bureau of the Census || 893 || 1,230 || 2,605 ||
 * Economics and Statistics Administration || 80 || 80 || 91 ||
 * International Trade Administration || 402 || 405 || 420 ||
 * Bureau of Industry and Security || 75 || 73 || 84 ||
 * Minority Business Development Agency || 30 || 29 || 29 ||
 * National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Operations, Research, and Facilities || 2,821 || 2,933 || 2,913 ||
 * Procurement, Acquisition and Construction || 1,085 || 971 || 1,239 ||
 * Other accounts || −11 || 68 || −42 ||
 * Subtotal, NOAA || 4,065 || 3,972 || 4,110 ||
 * U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO): ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Program level || 1,779 || 1,916 || 2,075 ||
 * Fees || −1,791 || −1,916 || −2,075 ||
 * Subtotal, PTO || −12 || — || — ||
 * Technology Administration || 2 || — || — ||
 * National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Scientific and Technical Research and Services || 439 || 446 || 539 ||
 * Industrial Technology Services || 177 || 136 || 4 ||
 * Construction of Research Facilities || 59 || 160 || 99 ||
 * Subtotal, NIST || 675 || 742 || 642 ||
 * National Telecommunications and Information Administration || 40 || 36 || 19 ||
 * Discretionary offsetting receipts || −23 || −4 || −1 ||
 * Total, Discretionary budget authority || 6,410 || 6,907 || 8,177 ||
 * //Memorandum: Budget authority from enacted supplementals// || //170// || — || — ||
 * Total, Discretionary outlays || 6,418 || 7,145 || 8,072 ||
 * Mandatory Outlays: ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Digital Television Fund programs: ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Public Safety Interoperable Communications grants || 24 || 296 || 396 ||
 * Digital Television Converter Box program || 36 || 404 || 534 ||
 * Other programs || — || 152 || 102 ||
 * All other || 8 || 162 || 151 ||
 * Mandatory offsetting receipts 1 || — || −852 || −1,032 ||
 * Total, Mandatory outlays || 68 || 162 || 151 ||
 * Total, Outlays || 6,486 || 7,327 || 8,223 ||
 * **Credit activity** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Direct Loan Disbursements: ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Fisheries Finance Direct Loan Financing account || 84 || 52 || 39 ||
 * || **Number of Programs** ||  || **2009 Savings** ||
 * **Major Savings, Discretionary** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Terminations || 4 ||  || −200 ||
 * Reductions || 2 ||  || −175 ||
 * Direct Loan Disbursements: ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Fisheries Finance Direct Loan Financing account || 84 || 52 || 39 ||
 * || **Number of Programs** ||  || **2009 Savings** ||
 * **Major Savings, Discretionary** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * Terminations || 4 ||  || −200 ||
 * Reductions || 2 ||  || −175 ||
 * Reductions || 2 ||  || −175 ||



Related Articles
by: Ray Chandler on May 6th 2009
 * Upstate ripe for broadband developement**

//Summary:// This articles refers to a study that was done by a local branch of the Department of Commerce in South Carolina. They did a study to determine if broadband access development would benefit the commerce in the area. They found that the broadband would help stimulate business's interest in the area. This in tern would bring more jobs to a the town which will also help stimulate their overall commerce. The town plans on being able to use some Federal money from the Department of Commerce to help fund their plans. This plan would not only stimulate commerce in the town but it would also stimulate business growth.

[|Read Original Article]

Expanding Broadband Could Be Tourist Boon For Rural Regions
by: Carolina New Wire on May 5, 2009

//Summary:// This article talks about how the economic stimulus package contains funds for broadband expansion. It says that these funds could be used in Rural areas to expand broadband access to those areas. On effect that expended broadband access to these areas has is that it creates tourism. This occurs because people are able to find out more about these areas if they are online. Haaving internet access in rural areas helps people find out about the often rich history of those areas and makes them more interested in these areas. By begin able to increase toursim, the department of commerce also increases commerece in the area because of the increased number of people coming to the area.

[|Read Original Article]

by: Ausyin Business Journal on April 27, 2009
 * State looks to expand broadband access**

//Summary:// This article talks about Texas's expansion of their wireless internet program. They are hoping that using some federal funding they will be able to expand their wireless internet program to all areas of the state. Todd Staples said. “Expanding broadband service is key to creating opportunities and efficiencies for all Texans, from private citizens and businesses to healthcare and education.” These created opportunities would like help stimulate commerce throughout Texas.

[|Read Original Article]


 * Recommendation to President Obama**

I would recommend that President Obama continue his current support of broadband expansion in the United States. Broadband expansion will provide many new opportunities for commerce in rural and other areas of the United States. Since internet access is a necessity in the business world businesses will be more likely to do commerce and set up offices in locations that have broadband access. Also the internet is an excellent resource for entrepreneurs who are trying to start their own business. By making this access more readily available in all areas of the country, there will be more opportunities for new business to be formed and for current business to expand their commerce.