WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez issued the following statement on President-Elect Barack Obama’s nomination of Gov. Bill Richardson to be the next Secretary of Commerce: “The Department of Commerce is a vast agency with a diverse portfolio that ranges from promoting commerce and economic growth, to exercising stewardship over our oceans and waterways.
“Gov. Richardson has strong international experience, which will serve him well at the Department of Commerce. In our global marketplace, America must be actively engaged, seeking to strengthen and grow our commercial and trading relationships. Richardson has the credibility and expertise to negotiate with our foreign partners and ensure that American businesses and workers have open markets and a fair playing field on which to compete.
“I’m proud of the Commerce Department’s role in opening foreign markets , protecting our oceans and natural resources , strengthening American competitiveness and promoting freedom and democracy abroad. Gov. Richardson will take the reigns of a strong agency with dedicated civil servants who will continue these efforts on behalf of the American people.”
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
