News and reports from the Department of Commerce.

The Biden-Harris Administration announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce and Amkor Technology, Inc. have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) to provide up to $400 million in proposed direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. President Biden signed this bipartisan act as part of his Investing in America agenda to revitalize semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, strengthen the domestic supply chain, create jobs, and support future industries.

The United States Department of Commerce and the Nigerian Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy have released a joint statement to enhance collaboration in the digital economy. This initiative is part of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Nigeria’s Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, launching the U.S.-Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership.

The Departments of Commerce and the Interior announced a $240 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support fish hatcheries that produce Pacific salmon and steelhead. This initiative underscores the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to empowering Tribal Nations and fulfilling federal trust and treaty responsibilities. Fish hatcheries in the Pacific Northwest are vital for subsistence, ceremonial, and economic benefits for Tribal communities, as well as fulfilling Treaty-reserved fishing rights. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric...

On July 23, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a series of actions and commitments from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the private sector to support the long-term success of all designated Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (Tech Hubs) and NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines).

The Biden-Harris Administration announced today an initiative to enhance early wildfire detection capabilities through satellite technology. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has entered into an agreement with the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Forest Service to utilize data from NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite — R series (GOES-R). This collaboration, backed by a $20 million investment from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to improve the speed and accuracy of...

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and EU Commissioner for Justice and Consumers Didier Reynders issued a joint statement today regarding the first periodic review of the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (DPF). Representatives from the United States Government, the European Commission, and EU data protection authorities convened in Washington D.C. on July 18 and 19 to conduct this review.

Thank you, Eric, for that introduction and your continued leadership. Hello everyone, and welcome to the Department of Commerce. It is a pleasure to join you all here to discuss our efforts to ensure that all Americans and businesses have the resources they need to succeed and thrive.

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced preliminary terms with GlobalWafers to significantly increase the production of silicon wafers in the United States. The U.S. Department of Commerce and GlobalWafers America, LLC, along with MEMC LLC, subsidiaries of GlobalWafers Co., Ltd., have signed a non-binding preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) to provide up to $400 million in proposed direct funding under the CHIPS and Science Act. This initiative aims to bolster domestic semiconductor wafer production and advance U.S. technology leadership.

The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 0.1% drop in consumer prices for June, marking the lowest core inflation rate in over three years. Additionally, the U.S. economy added 206,000 jobs in June, surpassing expectations and bringing the total number of jobs created under President Biden to a record 15.7 million.

On June 18, the Department of Commerce Office of Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships, in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, organized the National Youth Summit 2.0 in Washington, DC. Secretary Raimondo, Deputy Secretary Graves, Acting Under Secretary Morrissette, and President and CEO of BGCGW Gabrielle Webster led the event with keynote remarks emphasizing the Administration's commitment to celebrating, empowering, and uplifting youth from communities nationwide.

Today marks the second anniversary of the U.S. Department of Commerce's issuance of the National Travel and Tourism Strategy, which set a five-year goal to welcome 90 million international visitors annually by 2027. The Department has announced that it expects to reach this target ahead of schedule. According to the latest estimates from the International Trade Administration, the United States anticipates welcoming 91 million annual visitors by 2026, surpassing the original goal one year early.

Today, as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to open a competition for new research and development (R&D) activities aimed at establishing and accelerating domestic capacity for semiconductor advanced packaging. The CHIPS for America program anticipates up to $1.6 billion in funding innovation across five R&D areas, as outlined in the vision for the National Advanced Packaging Manufacturing Program (NAPMP). Through potential cooperative agreements, CHIPS for America would make several awards...

President Biden has emphasized creating high-quality, well-paying jobs for Americans, supported by funding from the CHIPS and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act. This focus has led to increased demand for construction jobs. To meet this demand, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is intensifying efforts to recruit, train, hire, and retain thousands of women in construction and trades.

The Department of Commerce is calling for nominations for the 2024 Sustainability, Energy, and Environmental (SEE) Ambassadors program. The SEE Ambassadors program recognizes individual Departmental employees for outstanding performance in implementing exceptional projects and programs that help the Department meet goals related to sustainability, energy and water reduction, clean energy, climate change adaptation, environmental justice, resilience, and environmental performance.

The Department of Commerce is calling for nominations for the 2024 Sustainability, Energy, and Environmental (SEE) Ambassadors program. The SEE Ambassadors program recognizes individual Departmental employees for outstanding performance in implementing exceptional projects and programs that help the Department meet sustainability, energy and water reduction, clean energy, climate change adaptation, environmental justice, resilience, and environmental performance goals.