Russian aggression in Ukraine continues and the U.S. Department of Commerce is doing what it can to counter the invasion, Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves said during a recent gathering in Colorado.
Graves delivered keynote remarks during the plenary session of the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs April 19.
"Before I dive into the meat of my speech, I want to remind folks of the continued brutality being meted out upon the brave people of Ukraine," Graves said in his remarks. "And one of the most important roles we have at the Commerce Department right now is countering Putin's unwarranted and brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine."
Export controls, deployed alongside 38 U.S. partners and allies worldwide, aim to "slow Russia's ability to produce high-end products that have dual uses in both commercial and military technology," Graves said. according to his remarks.
"We will continue to restrict access to semiconductors, lasers, sensors and aerospace parts, and a range of other technologies, hobbling the Russian illegal war effort and reinforcing our support for Ukraine," Graves continued in his remarks. "Make no mistake, any country around the world that seeks to backfill the Russian war machine by supplying weapons or dual-use technologies to Russia, does so at their own peril."
After delivering that warning, Graves returned to the topic at hand and expressed his gratitude to the Space Symposium and the approximately 15,000 exhibitors, educators, students and volunteers from around the world in attendance, according to his remarks.
"It's fitting that we're here in Colorado, the nation's second-largest aerospace economy," he said in his remarks. "If you look at almost any aerospace project these days, chances are a Colorado company was involved. Colorado is home to cutting-edge space exploration programs, four military commands and multiple world-renowned research laboratories. That includes several Department of Commerce labs in Boulder, located on the campus of the David Skaggs Research Center."
Graves noted the Department is "eager to deepen our engagement with the commercial space industry" by promoting innovations, exploring new avenues for business and providing regulatory clarity, consistency and transparency, according to his remarks.
"America’s commercial space industry is vital to our country’s continued global competitiveness," Graves said in his remarks. "I look forward to our continued work together. Thank you again for having me today, and best wishes for a great Space Symposium!”
