Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said increases in inequality and the cost of living have informed decisions at the Commerce Department.
Speaking at an Advancing Equity and Wellbeing through Data event, he said in making critical decisions, the department depends on research from organizations like New America and the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, according to a Nov. 30 news release.
“I also want to thank you for the research and advocacy you do to support broad-based economic growth,” Graves said in the release. “It aligns with our work at the Commerce Department, where we’re laser-focused on improving America’s competitiveness so that all our workers and companies can succeed in the global economy.”
Through President Joe Biden’s leadership, Graves said Congress passed new bills that have made once-in-a-generation investments to rebuild the country’s infrastructure, support the workforce, supercharge innovation, combat the climate crisis and shore up supply chains, the release reported.
A year-long endeavor will result in the creation of a shared knowledge base to scale the use of data for informed decision-making for communities’ greater well-being, according to the release. To make meaningful progress in addressing inequality, Graves said the Commerce Department needs help and asked the teams at New America and the Washington Center for Equitable Growth to engage with the department, participate in its events, respond to requests for information and reach out to share expertise.
“Together, we can create an equitable economy for all Americans,” he said in the release.
