U.S. Department of Commerce

Department of Commerce Announces Grants Across Nine States Highlight Thriving U.S. Semiconductor Industry

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration awarded nearly $5 million to 17 small businesses across nine states under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. The SBIR Phase I awards will fund research projects to explore the technical merit or feasibility of an innovative idea or technology for developing a viable product or service for introduction in the commercial microelectronics marketplace. This is the first award for the CHIPS Research and Development Office. The Biden-Harris Administration is dedicated to getting small businesses the resources they need to thrive and promoting competition to level the playing field.

“As we grow the U.S. semiconductor industry, the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to building opportunities for small businesses to prosper. With today’s awards, these 17 businesses will support CHIPS for America’s efforts to grow the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem and support our national and economic security,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

NIST measurement science, or metrology, is at the heart of all the advances we anticipate from American chipmakers in coming years, like smaller, faster, chips that take less energy to make, operate and cool, with more functions at less expense.

The award-winning projects were competitively selected from proposals submitted in response to a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on multiple topics on research projects for critically needed measurement services, tools, and instrumentation; innovative manufacturing metrologies; novel assurance and provenance technologies and advanced metrology research and development (R&D) testbeds to help secure U.S. leadership in the global semiconductor industry.

These are all Phase I SBIR awards, which are meant to establish the merit, feasibility and commercial potential of the proposed research and development projects. All 17 small businesses will be under consideration for a SBIR Phase II award in Spring 2025. Each Phase II award can be funded up to $1,910,000. 

“NIST and CHIPS for America are proud to support these small businesses as they take innovations, scale them for the commercial marketplace, and boost the U.S. economy. We are happy to support the entrepreneurs with great ideas as they seek to build the next great American company,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director Laurie E. Locascio.

CHIPS Metrology SBIR Awardees

Direct Electron LP (Rancho Bernardo, California)

Develop a novel high-speed camera for high-resolution electron backscatter diffraction and transmission Kikuchi diffraction which will significantly expand the materials properties that can be probed with this technique. This project will benefit U.S. industry using materials characterization for current and next-generation microelectronics devices.

HighRI Optics, Inc (Oakland, California)

Develop cutting-edge technology for calibration of the instrument transfer function of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithographic tools. This project will advance EUV lithography technology for the U.S. semiconductor industry.

Photon Spot, Inc. (Monrovia, California)

Develop an ultra-compact, ultra-low vibration cryogenic system to support time-resolved imaging applications. This project will benefit integrated circuit manufacturers and researchers conducting experiments on quantum technologies.

Photothermal Spectroscopy Corporation (Santa Barbara, California)

Develop a new instrument for high-speed thermal properties analysis and simultaneous chemical characterization with sub-micron spatial resolution. This project will improve thermal management and thermal property characterization for the U.S. semiconductor industry.

PrimeNano Inc (Santa Clara, California)

Develop a measurement technology for in-line metrology, which has applications in materials purity, electrical properties, three-dimensional devices, and next generation manufacturing. This project will benefit the U.S. metrology and advanced packaging industries.

Recon RF, Inc.  (San Diego, California)

Develop next-generation large-signal and high-power transistor modeling techniques to create highly accurate models for Radio Frequency (RF)-Microwave circuit design simulators. This project will benefit researchers and U.S. manufacturers of advanced radar, communications, and satellite technologies.

Sigray, Inc (Concord, California)

Develop a novel linear accumulation x-ray source to achieve an order of magnitude increase in performance over leading x-ray sources for critical dimension scattering. This project benefits researchers and manufacturers of semiconductor transistors.

Vapor Cell Technologies (Boulder, Colorado)

Develop advanced dimensional metrology tools for semiconductor fabrication equipment to minimize the gap in the physical-digital divide and amplifying the accuracy of digital twins. This project will benefit the U.S. microelectronics supply chain. 

Tech-X Corporation (Boulder, Colorado)

Develop a simulation tool for photonic integrated circuits that accounts for manufacturing variations and imperfections. This project will benefit the designers of photonic integrated circuits, who will have faster development times as well as U.S. semiconductor manufacturers and fabrication facilities.

Octave Photonics LLC (Louisville, Colorado)

Develop a new measurement tool to analyze airborne contaminants and toxic gases inside and outside the fab that lead to semiconductor processing defects and safety infringements. This project will benefits U.S semiconductor fabrication facilities.

Virtual EM, Inc. (Ann Arbor, Michigan)

Develop a Radio Frequency (RF) channel sounder system to accurately characterize the effects of the wireless environment. This project will benefit microelectronics companies and research institutions focused on communication technologies.

The Provenance Chain Network (Portland, Oregon)

Develop a reference implementation of the Commercial Trust™ Protocol (CTP) to manage verifiable credentials (VCs), metrology, and intellectual property, enhancing hardware security, and provenance tracking of microelectronic components across supply chains.  This project will benefit the U.S. microelectronics supply chain industry.

Tiptek, LLC (West Chester, Pennsylvania)

Develop new high-speed nanoprobes to enhance the ability for semiconductor failure analysis to locate and analyze to detect "soft' electrical faults that occur on the most advanced semiconductors and are otherwise difficult to detect. This project will benefit researchers and semiconductor failure analysis engineers in the U.S. semiconductor industry. 

Exigent Solutions (Frisco, Texas)

Develop AI-powered software to automate chip design optimization for manufacturability through accelerated lithography simulation. This project will benefit U.S. researchers and industry involve in semiconductor design and manufacturing.

Laser Thermal Analysis, Inc (Charlottesville, Virginia)

Develop hybrid atomic force microscopy instrument that will automatically generate maps of the thermal resistance, thermal boundary interface resistance, and temperature profiles of microprocessors and wide bandgap semiconductor materials and devices. This project will benefit devices with thermal management challenges and materials development needs on length scales smaller than 100 nanometers.

Hummingbird Precision Machine Co. dba Hummingbird Scientific (Olympia, Washington)

Develop a transmission electron microscopy in-situ specimen holder that enables real-time imaging of nano-scale electronic devices. The project will benefit manufacturers and researchers of next-generation high-voltage power converters used in a wide variety of industries. 

Steam Instruments (Madison, Wisconsin)

Develop a rapid and accurate high-resolution ion microscopy technology for materials characterization particularly focused on challenges for the semiconductor industry. This project will benefit the U.S. semiconductor industry and researchers.

Learn more about the CHIPS Metrology Program and the seven grand challenges.

About CHIPS for America   

CHIPS for America has allocated over $32 billion in proposed funding across 16 states and proposed to invest billions more in research and innovation, which will create over 115,000 jobs. Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, semiconductor and electronics companies have announced over $400 billion in private investments, catalyzed in large part by public investment. CHIPS for America is part of President Biden and Vice President Harris’s economic plan to invest in America, stimulate private sector investment, create good-paying jobs, make more in the United States, and revitalize communities left behind. CHIPS for America includes the CHIPS Program Office, responsible for manufacturing incentives, and the CHIPS Research and Development Office, responsible for R&D programs, that both sit within the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) at the Department of Commerce. Visit https://www.chips.gov to learn more. 

The CHIPS Metrology Program is building partnerships between researchers and industry to address the microelectronics industry’s metrology grand challenges. CHIPS for America has funded over $190 million across over 40 projects that are helping to develop new instruments, methods, data analysis, and models and simulations.  

Commerce and State to co-host convening to advance global cooperation toward the safe, secure, and trustworthy development of artificial intelligence

Following Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo’s announcement of the launch of the International Network of AI Safety Institutes during the AI Seoul Summit in May, the U.S. Commerce Department and U.S. State Department shared today that they will co-host the inaugural convening of the Network on November 20-21, 2024, in San Francisco, California.  

The convening will bring together technical experts on artificial intelligence from each member’s AI safety institute, or equivalent government-backed scientific office, in order to align on priority work areas for the Network and begin advancing global collaboration and knowledge sharing on AI safety.

“AI is the defining technology of our generation. With AI evolving at a rapid pace, we at the Department of Commerce, and across the Biden-Harris Administration, are pulling every lever. That includes close, thoughtful coordination with our allies and like-minded partners,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “We want the rules of the road on AI to be underpinned by safety, security, and trust, which is why this convening is so important. I look forward to welcoming government scientists and technical experts from the International Network of AI Safety Institutes to the center of American digital innovation, as we run toward the next phase of global cooperation in advancing the science of AI safety.”

The initial members of the International Network of AI Safety Institutes are Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Japan, Kenya, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. 

All members have expressed a shared ambition to advance the science of AI safety and recognize the importance of international coordination in ensuring that the benefits of AI development and deployment are shared equitably around the globe.

“Strengthening international collaboration on AI safety is critical to harnessing AI technology to solve the world’s greatest challenges. The AI Safety Network stands as a cornerstone of this effort,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.

The goal of this convening is to kickstart the Network’s technical collaboration ahead of the AI Action Summit in Paris in February 2025. The Departments will also invite experts from international civil society, academia, and industry to join portions of the event to help inform the work of the Network and ensure a robust view of the latest developments in the field of AI.

Welcome to the Commerce Department’s first-ever National Disability Leadership Summit. Thank you to the American Association of People with Disabilities for partnering with our Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships for this event.

I’m proud that our Department has a broad approach to accessibility that includes physical and digital accessibility, reasonable accommodation, and language access. We also recognize that people with disabilities are an integral part of our Department’s diverse and inclusive workforce.

It’s been 34 years since Americans with Disabilities Act became the law of the land. And thanks to the work of disability advocates, including many in this room, we’ve made tremendous progress towards meeting the ADA’s goals of accessibility and inclusion. But there’s more to be done. The pandemic had a disproportionate impact on people with disabilities, who are still far less likely to be employed than those without a disability.

Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, we at the Commerce Department are making historic investments in everything from high-speed Internet to advanced manufacturing and climate resilience. These investments are creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying, high-quality jobs that have the potential to change lives.

To meet our goals, we need to harness the talents of all our country’s workers. Because here’s the truth: if we don’t invest in America's workforce, we will not succeed. It’s a simple question of math. We have to fill those jobs, and we won’t be able to do that without growing our workforce, including workers with disabilities.

Tearing down barriers for people with disabilities isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the right thing for our economy. Research suggests that GDP could increase by up to $25 billion if just an additional 1% of people with disabilities joined the labor force.

At the Commerce Department, we’re working to ensure that all Americans have access to the job training and skills they need to succeed. But we can’t do it alone. The private sector, educational institutions, and advocacy groups all have a role to play to support accessibility and inclusion. And we need you. You know the needs of the disability community better than anyone. That’s what today is all about.

By forming and fostering meaningful partnerships, we can ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunities they deserve to thrive in the 21st century economy. Please continue to work with us at the Commerce Department to uplift our communities and meet their most pressing needs. I wish you a successful summit, and I’m eager to see all that we can accomplish together.

Good morning, everyone. On behalf of myself and Secretary Raimondo, I’d like to welcome you to the inaugural International Open RAN Symposium. I’m so pleased to be able to join you here today.

I’d first like to thank the teams at NTIA’s Institute for Telecommunication Sciences and its international affairs office for making this convening possible.
This is the largest convening the Department of Commerce has ever organized on Open RAN, and the first time we have brought together policy and technical experts in such a comprehensive way.

You all represent the leading companies, experts, and governments helping to make Open RAN a reality, making this gathering the center of the universe when it comes to fulfilling that mission.

Now let me be clear: we at the Department of Commerce and in the Biden-Harris Administration remain fully committed to global industry’s success in deploying Open RAN – understanding the potential it holds in enhancing the resilience, security, and innovative potential of our ICT supply chains and our economic and national security.

Our Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, administered by NTIA, represents our long-term commitment to a thriving Open RAN ecosystem within the U.S. and partner nations. As many of you know, the Innovation Fund is a 10-year, $1.5 billion grant program aimed at accelerating open and interoperable networks, wireless innovation, and supply chain resilience. Put simply, we’re putting our money where our mouth is. We have already awarded more than $140 million through the Fund, and we are now reviewing applications for up to $420 million more from our next round of grants.

Even still, we recognize that for Open RAN to achieve global scale and deliver fully on its expected benefits, it will take a cross-border ecosystem of network operators, vendors, and likeminded governments all working in close partnership.

That’s why I’m so pleased that we’re joined at this Open RAN Symposium by representatives from over 21 countries and six continents, spanning from governmental officials to academia to industry leaders.

It’s also why Commerce – in close collaboration with colleagues at the State Department and other U.S. agencies – has long put Open RAN at the heart of our global 5G outreach.

Soon you’ll hear from Ambassador Stephan Lang, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, and I want to thank him for his committed partnership with our National Telecommunications and Information Administration on this priority.

For example, last year we were pleased to join counterparts from the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, and Australia in launching the new Global Coalition on Telecommunications, or GCOT.

GCOT brings together the most like-minded governments on issues like telecoms diversification and 6G, so that we can move more quickly, target more concrete outcomes, and be more ambitious in helping industry overcome barriers.

Later this morning, you will get to hear from current GCOT members on a panel about international cooperation, and I hope that session encourages additional governments to participate in the Coalition’s ongoing efforts.

Another panel will unpack the Prague Proposals on Telecommunications Supplier Diversity – the first set of international principles regarding the role of governments in promoting developments like Open RAN. The U.S. Government and numerous partners in Asia, Europe, and Latin America have already endorsed these groundbreaking principles, and I encourage others to do so as well.

As you can see, this mission is far-reaching and growing stronger each day. And one thing remains true: while Open RAN can and should continue to be driven by global industry, policymakers also have an integral role to play, and a responsibility to uphold, in helping to support this mission’s success.

We must work to tackle obstacles within the ecosystem, convene the right stakeholders on the right issues at the right moments, and foster real public-private dialogue, so that our individual efforts add up to something greater than the sum of its parts.

The International Open RAN Symposium represents our latest effort to do just that, so I hope you take full advantage of this unique opportunity by targeting the most impactful, transformative outcomes possible.

Thank you all once again for joining us here in Colorado. And with that, I’m proud to declare this symposium “open,” and I wish you all an excellent stay in Colorado and continued success in the days ahead.

Thank you, Governor Polis, for that introduction, and for your support for this project every step of the way. I’d also like to thank Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet, and the entire Colorado delegation for their partnership in making the Tech Hubs program a reality. Hello everyone! I’m so pleased to be here to celebrate this important milestone with you all.

I’d also like to thank Zach Yerushalmi and the whole Elevate Quantum team for their incredible work to make today possible, as well as the Colorado School of Mines for helping the site on which we’re standing today, Sethuraman Panch for his collaboration with the Tech Hub, and CU Boulder for their close partnership.

Over at the Department of Commerce, we are committed to fostering the future of critical and emerging technologies and using place-based economic strategies to spread the benefits of these technologies to every corner of our country. Thanks to our Economic Development Administration and National Institute of Standards and Technology, that commitment is stronger than ever – and it’s taken root right here in Colorado.

We’re all here today because we see the promise of quantum and how quantum technologies have the power to drive our economy and our world. And we’re standing on the 70-acre site of the Elevate Quantum Tech Hub.

The consortium has been awarded $41 million by EDA, and the impact of that funding will be transformative. Elevate Quantum is on the cutting edge of quantum and will use this site to continue our legacy of leadership – tapping into regional expertise and assets, including leading national laboratories, unlocking
transformative technologies needed to move quantum-based products to market, and creating thousands of new jobs for American workers.

And make no mistake: this is all part of a larger effort. When President Biden signed the CHIPS & Science Act into law, he allowed Commerce and EDA to do what it does best: empower communities.

Through the $504 million Tech Hubs Program, we’ve been able to invest in and help grow local economies in often-overlooked places, advance America’s economic competitiveness, strengthen our national and economic security, and expand access to the American Dream.

Elevate Quantum is the embodiment of that. As one of 12 Tech Hubs across 14 states, it’s a vital engine of innovation, of global competitiveness, and of creation that will not only safeguard this community’s economic future but help write the next chapter of this country. And it’s thanks to their tireless work, as well as the support of dedicated stakeholders across local, state, and federal government, industry, and academia.

We look forward to breaking ground with you today and working together to build a brighter future for Colorado, for America.

Now, I’d like to introduce Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen. As a freshman member of the House, the Congresswoman has already become a leader in emerging technology through her work on the Bipartisan AI Task Force. Please join me in welcoming a great advocate for growing the industries of the future in Colorado, Congresswoman Pettersen.

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo issued the following statement on Switzerland’s adequacy decision on the Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (DPF):

“The United States welcomes the Swiss Federal Council’s finding that the Swiss-U.S. DPF provides an adequate level of protection to transfer personal data from Switzerland to the United States. Effective September 15, 2024, this change enables organizations to transfer personal data from Switzerland to Swiss-U.S. DPF-certified organizations in the United States.

The Swiss-U.S. DPF offers U.S. businesses conducting business with Switzerland an affordable and efficient solution for transferring personal data in compliance with Swiss law. This mechanism will help thousands of small- and medium-sized businesses who rely on data transfers to serve global customers and perform essential business functions.”

The U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to provide guidance to organizations looking to participate in or learn more about the Swiss-U.S. DPF: dataprivacyframework.gov/NewsEvents

This week, the U.S. Department of Commerce held the first in-person meetings of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Agreement’s Supply Chain Council on Thursday, September 12, followed by the Crisis Response Network on Friday, September 13.

The IPEF Supply Chain Council meeting, chaired by the United States, included representatives from all IPEF member countries: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam. Building on the momentum from the Council’s virtual meeting in July, the Council adopted a first-year workplan and established two Subcommittees: one on Logistics and Movement of Goods, and the other on Data and Analytics. The Council also established three Action Plan teams on semiconductors, chemicals, and critical minerals with a focus on batteries. Additionally, the Council plans to establish an Action Plan team on healthcare in the coming weeks. These topics were determined based on critical sectors and key goods that were formally identified by IPEF Parties for cooperation under the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement. 

“The IPEF Supply Chain Council plays a pivotal role in strengthening the resilience and security of supply chains across the Indo-Pacific region,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “By working together, we are not only addressing vulnerabilities but also creating new opportunities for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.”

After the in-person meeting of the IPEF Supply Chain Council, the Crisis Response Network (CRN) convened to discuss ways to enhance collaboration across IPEF. Chaired by the Republic of Korea, the CRN is focused on addressing immediate supply chain disruptions. During the meeting, the members of the CRN conducted an emergency simulation exercise involving a supply chain disruption impacting the import and use of certain chemicals by IPEF countries.

“The United States was honored to host these historic meetings,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis Grant T. Harris. “The meetings of the IPEF Supply Chain Council and Crisis Response Network allowed us to map out the strategic and tactical next steps for both bodies to advance the resilience and security of our regional supply chains.”

The U.S. Department of Commerce is committed to actively engaging in the Action Plan teams and Subcommittees as we work together to develop actionable policies and recommendations aimed at enhancing supply chain resilience across the IPEF region. Further, we look forward to the next Supply Chain Council meeting, which is scheduled to take place in December 2024. 

About IPEF

In May 2022, President Biden launched IPEF, bringing together 14 regional partners – Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam – in a new model of economic cooperation. IPEF negotiations began in late 2022. In May 2023, the IPEF partners announced the substantial conclusion of the negotiations for a first-of-its-kind IPEF Supply Chain Agreement. In November 2023, the IPEF partners announced the substantial conclusion of the negotiations on the proposed IPEF Clean Economy and Fair Economy Agreements, as well as on a proposed overarching Agreement on IPEF to help ensure the durability of the framework and held a signing ceremony for the IPEF Supply Chain Agreement, which entered into force on February 24, 2024.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo released the following statement after the Biden-Harris Administration announced actions to address the significant increased use of the de minimis exemption, in particular from Chinese e-commerce platforms, and to protect American consumers, workers, retailers, importers, and manufacturers. 

“American workers and businesses can outcompete anyone on a level playing field, but for too long, Chinese e-commerce platforms have skirted tariffs by abusing the de minimis exemption,” said Secretary Raimondo. “With these new actions, the Biden-Harris Administration is standing up for American consumers and cracking down on Chinese companies’ efforts to undercut American workers and businesses. I’m proud of the Commerce Department’s work with interagency partners to develop these new proposed rules that would promote consumer safety, prevent unfair trade practices, and protect American workers and industries.”

A shipment is generally eligible for the de minimis exemption if the aggregate fair retail value of the articles imported is $800 or less. De minimis shipments enter the United States with less information than other imports and are not subject to tariffs. Over the last ten years, the number of shipments entering the United States under the de minimis exemption has increased significantly from approximately 140 million a year to over one billion a year, with nearly four million entering the United States every day in 2023. This exponential increase in de minimis shipments makes it more challenging to enforce U.S. trade laws, health and safety requirements, intellectual property rights, and consumer protection rules, and to block illicit synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and synthetic drug raw materials and machinery from entering the country.

For more information on the Commerce Department and the rest of the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions, see HERE.

Thank you, Assistant Secretary Harris. Thanks to chairs Ursula and Jeff, and to our speakers.

Yesterday we held our inaugural Supply Chain Summit, and it was a great moment to reflect on how far we’ve come.

Following the COVID supply chain challenges, we embraced a whole of government approach to address supply chain gaps. It’s truly remarkable to see what has happened in the last four year – not just with the supply chain center – but across the range of government and private sector tools.

I’d like to take some time today to celebrate successes – and hear from you what you’ve learned in the last four years. But then we need to get back to work and talk about what the next phase of our work should entail.

First, the successes:

The Biden-Harris Administration had a strategy to address these challenges and ignite growth. 

Our belief is that the federal government must set the strategic direction and create the conditions for growth. We need to lay the foundation for the private sector to do what the private sector does best – innovate, push the growth frontier, and drive U.S. competitiveness.

Congress gave us a brand-new set of tools to achieve those goals. CHIPS and IRA focused on changing incentives for the private sector. Through tax credits, investments, loans, and procurement policies, we are changing the economic calculus so the private sector can take risks in the areas where we have set strategic priorities.

We’re seeing early signs of success.

Investment: Construction of factories has more than doubled since 2021. Private sector investment in manufacturing is at the highest level since World War II business investment in equipment, and software has been beating forecasters’ expectations.

CHIPS: In the two years since the CHIPS and Science Act became law, America has become a magnet for private sector investments in semiconductor manufacturing and innovation. The United States is now expected to grow its share of global leading-edge logic manufacturing to 28% by 2032 – up from 0% when the law was passed.

IRA: Is triggering a clean energy boom along the supply chain of EVs, for example.

This is all great. But there is obviously more work to do.

I worry about PRC oversupply undermining our investments. From legacy chips to lithium, we see serious risks. And I’m not sure we currently have the best tools to address these concerns.

I’m concerned that OEMs are not actually pricing in resilience but counting on long-term government subsidies to provide them U.S.-produced inputs at a China-price.

You all have put two critical issues front and center: Data Center supply chains and Buy America provisions for semiconductor supply chains. These are both clear areas where we have more work to do.

So, I'd like to start by asking you some questions:

When you reflect on the last four years, what do you think we’ve done really well? Where do you see success?

What still keeps you up a night?  What do you think we need to focus on next?

Thank you, Eric, for your leadership, partnership and for being with us tonight. Thanks to Meeks, Green, Ivey. Michigan’s fantastic Lt. Gov. Garland Gilchrist. It is great to be together this week of the CBC Annual Legislative Conference.

As we all know, the Biden-Harris Administration has been historic and productive for the American people. We’re making major investments in infrastructure. We’re boosting domestic manufacturing. We’re taking meaningful action to combat the climate crisis. And through it all, we’re focused on ensuring everyone can share in our prosperity. All of this was made possible thanks to the work of members of the CBC, who do an incredible job delivering for the American people.

Through MBDA’s $125 million Capital Readiness Program, we’re funding incubators and accelerators with expertise to get minority and other underserved entrepreneurs the resources, tools, and technical assistance they need to start or scale their businesses.

We’re investing $50 billion to connect everyone in America to quality reliable and affordable high-speed Internet service, with about $3 billion of that going towards equity focused programs, and more than $250 million going to HBCUs and other Minority-Serving Institutions.

 We’re investing $50 billion to make America a leader in semiconductor manufacturing, with a focus and requirement of the companies in which we are investing that they develop pathways into the industry for communities that all too often have been left behind and that they make minority and other underserved businesses a key part of these ecosystems.

I am so proud to be the current Chair of the Interagency Community Investment Committee, launched by Vice President Harris 3 years ago, with a focus on ensuring that the billions of dollars of investment that we are making flows to and through communities that are often left behind instead of around them.  And the committee is continuing the Vice President’s Economic Opportunity Tour, making certain that our communities know about these investments and have direct access to the resources, tools and technical assistance they will need to participate and thrive in this Opportunity Economy.

But our priority is ensuring that we are a Department that puts its money where its mouth is at home.

Here at Commerce, its critical that our leadership and our workforce reflect the diversity of this nation. So I’d like to take a moment to mention just a few of the folks across the Department who have been filling Black jobs:

• Michael Morgan, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction and Deputy Administrator of NOAA
• Derrick Brent, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
• Eric Morrisette, our Acting Undersecretary for Minority Business Development
• Alejandra Castillo, Assistant Secretary for Economic Development
• Tonya Williams, my Chief of Staff and then Vice-President Biden’s Director of Legislative Affairs
• Jeremiah JJ Jones, Director of the National Technical Information Service

They embody this simple principle: that people drive policy. And our policies need to be about uplifting people. 

When you think about how our major investment programs like CHIPS, Broadband, and climate resiliency play out,

When you think about the ways we drive and protect innovation, 

about how we enhance and grow our local and regional economies,

about the ways we support the risk takers who start and grow new businesses employing people in all of our country’s communities,

How we do that is determined by people and their diversity of thought, their experience, their capabilities.

And that doesn’t happen by accident.

It’s no accident that for decades policy makers systemically discriminated against our communities. 

It's no accident that policies of the past have left our entrepreneurs and our companies out of the equation.

It’s no accident that Black families’ median wealth is just a fraction of their white counterparts, or that Black people struggle every day to access the same opportunities – capital, contracts, careers – as their white counterparts.

But because of the leadership of our President and our Vice President and the hard work of this Department and many others across this Administration, as well as industry leaders and community stakeholders, we’re being intentional about righting these wrongs.

That’s why it’s also no accident that in communities where at least 30% of the population identify as Black, Commerce has obligated 457 awards totaling billions of dollars.

It’s no accident that our CHIPS HBCU Network is inspiring and educating more eager young Black scientists and engineers on the technology of the future, or that we launched the Tech Hubs program that is helping reshape places like Tulsa, Oklahoma, “Black Wall Street” into a mecca of tech talent.

And it’s certainly no accident that we are all here with this evening. All of these achievements, and more, represent the conscious decision we have all made to do something – to take action.  

And that, my friends, is why it is so important to make the choice of who we put in these positions – to whom we give a seat at the table – a priority. 

Because we know that a seat at the table is about more than affecting policy, it’s about making the type of change that will impact the lives of Black families across the country, and making our economy more dynamic and stronger. So, once again, thank you again for everything you’ve done. I’m excited to continue working with the CBC and all of you to support our community.

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with members of the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC). During the meeting, the Secretary provided a readout of the recent Supply Chain Summit, which was co-hosted this week by the Department of Commerce and the Council on Foreign Relations. She emphasized the importance of strengthening supply chain resilience and bolstering national security, including through the important work of the Department of Commerce’s Supply Chain Center. Secretary Raimondo sought input from ACSCC members on the Buy America provisions related to semiconductor supply chains and underscored the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to revitalizing domestic chip manufacturing and supporting U.S. jobs. The Secretary also highlighted the critical role of AI Data Center supply chains in supporting national and economic security and expressed gratitude to ACSCC members for their collaboration with the Department on its supply chain resiliency efforts.

Secretary Raimondo was joined by Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis, Grant T. Harris, who highlighted the launch of a first-of-its-kind diagnostic tool—known as SCALE—which utilizes a comprehensive set of indicators to assess structural supply chain risk across the U.S. economy. Assistant Secretary Harris noted that the Supply Chain Center will continue to engage with key stakeholders, including ACSCC members, to enhance collaboration on supply chain security and resilience initiatives and thanked members for their interest in continuing to work with the Industry and Analysis team on these important issues.

Department unveils first-of-its kind diagnostic supply chain risk assessment tool as Secretary Raimondo and Deputy Secretary Graves highlight how the Commerce Department is working to make America’s supply chains more resilient.

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce, in collaboration with the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), hosted the inaugural Supply Chain Summit. Bringing together leaders from government, industry, academia, and civil society, the Summit highlighted the work of the Biden-Harris Administration and industry to shift from reacting to global supply chain disruptions to proactively strengthening supply chain resilience.

“The Biden-Harris Administration knows securing American supply chains is vital to protecting our national security and enhancing our economic competitiveness,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “By working with industry and taking an analytical, proactive approach, we are working to prevent the kind of supply chain failures that drove up costs for Americans during the pandemic and to create new economic opportunities for communities across the nation.”  

“The actions we’re taking at the Commerce Department to secure our supply chains are possible because of the work we’ve done since day one to leverage our innovative expertise and capabilities to put risk assessment and resiliency at the forefront of our commercial engagement,” said Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves. “We remember the dark days of COVID and what it felt like when medical devices, PPE, critical technologies, and everyday household appliances were out of reach. That’s why mitigating the impact was step one and turning reactive policies into proactive policies became our second chapter, which is precisely what was on display at the Supply Chain Summit.”

At the Summit, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's ongoing commitment to strengthening supply chains, the Department of Commerce’s Supply Chain Center unveiled a first-of-its kind diagnostic supply chain risk assessment tool—known as SCALE—which utilizes a comprehensive set of indicators to assess structural supply chain risk across the U.S. economy. The SCALE tool, coupled with the Industry and Analysis business unit’s deep industry expertise, will enable the U.S. Government to be more proactive and strategic in addressing supply chain risk. The tool compares risks across industries and provides an in-depth assessment of what is driving those risks. SCALE will help inform U.S. government decision-making, and can facilitate data-driven conversations with industry on risks, opportunities, and actions that can advance supply chain resilience.

“To be proactive, we need the right insights and ideas, and we need to make data more actionable,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis Grant Harris. “SCALE is a first-of-its-kind analytics tool because it revolutionizes our ability to understand systemic supply chain vulnerabilities that pose risks to U.S. economic and national security.” 

The Summit featured notable speakers including, Secretary Raimondo, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves, Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk, Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry & Analysis Grant Harris, and Ambassador Michael Froman. These and other leaders addressed the critical role supply chain resilience plays in U.S. economic and national security, and the role of public-private cooperation in driving these efforts forward.

To further bolster global supply chain resilience, the U.S. Department of Commerce also announced seven new strategic partnerships with key stakeholders across industry and academia. These partnerships will help the Department promote the global competitiveness of U.S. industry, help businesses become more resilient, and make its supply chain work all the more innovative and impactful. The International Trade Administration also announced a competitive process to develop new data or analysis that can be used to expand the indicators of risk incorporated into the SCALE tool.

The Department of Commerce is committed to advancing the outcomes of the 2024 Supply Chain Summit.  The Supply Chain Center and our Industry & Analysis team will continue to work closely with industry leaders, small businesses, and international partners to build more resilient, sustainable, and diverse supply chains.

For more information about the key outcomes of the 2024 Supply Chain Summit, please review the policy actions outlined in the Supply Chain Resilience Fact Sheet.

At the Supply Chain Summit, the Department of Commerce announced that the following actions will be undertaken by the Industry & Analysis (I&A) business unit within the International Trade Administration:

New efforts to build the U.S. Government’s analytical capacity to understand and address supply chain risk:  

Launched SCALE Tool: Department of Commerce’s Supply Chain Center unveiled a first-of-its kind diagnostic supply chain risk assessment tool—known as SCALE—which utilizes a comprehensive set of indicators to assess structural supply chain risk across the U.S. economy.  The SCALE tool, coupled with the I&A’s deep industry expertise, will enable the U.S. Government to be more proactive and strategic in addressing supply chain risk. The tool compares risks across industries and provides an in-depth assessment of what is driving those risks. SCALE will inform U.S. government decision-making and can facilitate data-driven conversations with industry on risks, opportunities, and actions that can advance supply chain resilience.

SCALE Tool Findings: During the Summit, Assistant Secretary Grant Harris shared how the Supply Chain Center developed SCALE and highlighted its intended use cases. Looking ahead, the Center will release key findings from the SCALE tool, coupled with relevant insights from I&A’s industry experts, and engage industry and other key stakeholders on the results.

SCALE Tool Data Competition:  I&A plans to launch a competition aimed at developing new data or analysis that can be used to expand the indicators of risk incorporated into the SCALE tool. 

Expanded engagement with industry and other key stakeholders:

Convening on AI Data Centers: This fall, Secretary Raimondo will convene industry to discuss risks associated with the supply chains for AI data centers, focused on the products and industries identified by I&A stakeholder engagement, in-house expertise, and the SCALE tool. The convening will bring both upstream and downstream suppliers and customers together to assess current and future bottlenecks and risky dependencies, all while helping to inform recommendations on steps both industry and government can take to mitigate identified risks.

Industry Supply Chain Tabletop Exercises: In 2025, I&A will conduct two tabletop exercises with industry to better understand opportunities to address structural supply chain risks faced by the United States. One exercise will focus on supply chain risks in the chemicals industry; the second will focus on an emerging technology where it is critical the United States maintain a strategic advantage.  

New Strategic Partnerships: At the Summit, seven new strategic partnerships with key stakeholders across industry and academia were announced. These partnerships will help the Department promote the global competitiveness of U.S. industry, help businesses become more resilient, and make its supply chain work more innovative and impactful. The new partners are:

• National Small Business Association
• Association for Supply Chain Management
• Council for Supply Chain Management Professionals
• Institute for Supply Management
• Industry Studies Association
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Georgetown University

2025 Supply Chain Summit: I&A will host another Supply Chain Summit in 2025. The Summit will bring together government, industry, and other stakeholders to examine continual progress made in increasing American supply chain resiliency. The date of the Summit will be announced in the months ahead.

Today, Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves met with the Republic of Korea Minister of Trade Cheong In-kyo. During the meeting, Deputy Secretary Graves expressed the Commerce Department’s commitment to working with Minister Cheong and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to increase our trade and investment ties. The two also discussed ongoing collaboration through the U.S.-Korea Supply Chain and Commercial Dialogue to promote increased trade and investment in advanced manufacturing, healthcare and healthcare technologies, and the digital economy.

Thank you to the Association of Economists of Puerto Rico for hosting today. I look forward to discussing research opportunities to advance economic measurement and building statistical capacity by leveraging the newly established Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC) here in Puerto Rico.

People often think of the Department of Commerce as the Department of Business, but we’re much more than that. We’re the Department of data, science, technology, people, and communities.

Day-to-day funding and public policy decisions rely on data collected from the Census Bureau. For Puerto Rico, policymakers and key stakeholders often operate with a lack of comprehensive data about the Puerto Rican people and your economy.

There’s been a lot of deep interest in obtaining equitable access to measures and statistics for Puerto Rico and the FSRDC is an affirming step in the right direction.

Demographic and socioeconomic data is critical for data in evidence-driven decisions, but the Census Bureau faces many challenges in the archipelago, particularly the lack of data infrastructure -- including updated standards, methodology, technical capacity and data practices. In most cases, the U.S. Census Bureau needs data inputs from states and local governments (i.e., they furnish the data to be included in national statistics), however, in many cases the Government of Puerto Rico is not able to provide the data – for many reasons, generally for lack of data quality or availability.

Both federal and local stakeholders have expressed deep interest in obtaining equitable access to measures and statistics for Puerto Rico, something more comparable to what the Census Bureau is able produce for the stateside.

When President Biden established the Puerto Rico Economic Dialogue in 2021, we developed four pillars with concrete actions and deliverables that the Census Bureau has a played a huge role in. Of these four pillars – strengthening human capital and workforce development, investing in infrastructure, building a diversified economy, and improving governance and data – the FSRDC is critical to accomplishing that fourth pillar.

Access to FSRDC data will enhance the statistical capacity on the island and enable local officials, industry leaders and third sector to make more informed, timely data-driven decisions. It will also allow local academics to address previously unanswerable research questions.

The Puerto Rico FSRDC will play a crucial role in enhancing the statistical capacity on the island, enabling local officials to make more informed, data-driven decisions, and allowing academics to explore critical research topics regarding the economy of Puerto Rico. As part of a network of 33 other centers across the United States, the PR FSRDC will contribute to deepening our understanding of the population and economy of the United States and its territories.

I look forward to a fruitful discussion.

Thank you for that introduction. Hello everyone! I’m so pleased to be back in Puerto Rico to join you all to mark this exciting occasion. I’d like to thank the Platform for Social Impact for hosting us today, and for their important work in bringing prosperity back to Puerto Rico.

As many of you know, since the start of the Biden-Harris Administration, the Department of Commerce has spearheaded a historic whole-of-government effort across 17 federal government agencies that have resulted in over $140 billion in federal obligations for Puerto Rico. As President Biden’s Puerto Rico Economic Growth Coordinator, I understand just how fundamental those funding dollars are to the communities that call this place home.

And that funding isn’t limited to recovery and resiliency efforts following disasters like Hurricane Maria. We also carved out funding for the archipelago in landmark legislation signed into law by President Biden. And that’s what brings us here today.

We’re excited to announce that the Oasis Expansion Recompete Plan, led by the Platform for Social Impact, will receive approximately $30 million to invest in comprehensive economic development initiatives in the Villa Prades community here in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Oasis Expansion Recompete Plan focuses its impact in the Villa Prades neighborhood, where residents face wage shortages and a lack of opportunity and support that they need to provide for themselves and their loved ones. Today’s announcement of the Recompete project, as well as the groundbreaking of the new Oasis Hub project, aim to directly confront this.

Many residents in this community are seeking to join the workforce or become entrepreneurs, and with this funding, the Platform for Social Impact will enable wraparound services such as workforce training, entrepreneurship programs, child and elder care, housing, healthcare and social safety net initiatives, and other projects that target economic mobility – both for working age adults and their families. With such a skyrocketing workforce shortage, this investment will also accelerate reconstruction efforts on this Island.

This is what the Recompete Program is all about. Funded through the CHIPS & Science Act, this program centers the Administration’s core belief that we’re stronger when more places have thriving, opportunity-rich economies, and that with the right resources and opportunities, all communities can achieve this.

This funding was awarded through our Economic Development Administration’s Distressed Areas Recompete Pilot Program, a $200 million competition focused on economic distress across the country.

To put today’s announcement in perspective, the Recompete Program was an incredibly competitive application process nationwide and this award, along with five others, represent the top 1% of applicants being selected. The rigor of our selection process should give confidence to current and future partners about the vision PSI is forging.

And that funding isn’t the only public investment kickstarting transformative change. Today, we’re also celebrating the co-investment of over $130 million in funding from the Government of Puerto Rico and the City of San Juan to support the Recompete initiative. I’d like to thank Governor Pierluisi, Mayor Romero, and members of the Governor’s Cabinet for this significant joint commitment.

One thing this absolutely clear: this initiative is exactly the type of place-based economic development President Biden and Vice President Harris have been championing – where resources have been concentrated, teams have been allocated, and community stakeholders have been included. And the results of this will be resounding: thousands of new jobs, and unprecedented levels of economic growth right here in Puerto Rico.

The work is far from over, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned during my time supporting Puerto Rico’s economic recovery, it’s that this work is more effective and robust when we do it together. The Department of Commerce, alongside President Biden and Vice President Harris, look forward to continuing to help chart a prosperous path forward with the Platform for Social Impact so that all Puerto Ricans can lead lives of dignity.

This week, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the appointment of 4 new experts to the National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee (NAIAC), which advises the President and the White House on a range of issues related to artificial intelligence (AI). 

The committee, launched in 2022, provides recommendations on topics including the current state of U.S. AI competitiveness, the state of science around AI, and AI workforce issues. The committee also is responsible for advice regarding the management and coordination of the initiative itself, including its balance of activities and funding.

“Empowering our nation’s top talent in AI across academia, industry, non-profits and civil society is fundamental to the responsible development and deployment of this generation-defining technology. That’s why NAIAC’s work is so critical to our collaborative effort to mitigate the risks so we can harness the benefits of artificial intelligence,” said Secretary Raimondo. “These new committee members represent some of the best in their field, and I am confident will play an important part in helping NAIAC to meet its mission to provide the expertise and guidance necessary to maintain U.S. global leadership on AI.”

This announcement follows the first 27 appointments to the National AI Advisory Committee in 2022 after its establishment in response to the National AI Initiative Act of 2020. The committee members were nominated by the public as expert leaders from a broad and interdisciplinary range of AI-relevant disciplines from across academia, industry, non-profits and civil society.

The newly appointed members include:

• Aneesh Chopra, Chief Strategy Officer of Arcadia; previously, he served as the first U.S. Chief Technology Officer and Virginia’s Secretary of Technology.
• Christopher Howard, Executive vice president and chief operating officer of ASU; he is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and earned a doctorate in politics as a Rhodes Scholar from the University of Oxford and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.
• Angie Cooper, Executive Vice President of Heartland Forward; previously she worked in international and domestic public policy and government affairs for Walmart Stores, Inc., most recently as senior director of global public policy.
• Beth Cobert, former President of the Markle Foundation; previously she served as Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Committee members will serve three-year terms and may serve two consecutive terms at the discretion of the secretary. The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides administrative support to the committee. For more information on the NAIAC and its responsibilities, visit ai.gov/naiac.

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met with First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko. During the meeting, Secretary Raimondo re-affirmed the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and the Department of Commerce’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in its response to Russia’s continued aggression. They discussed Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago’s recent visit to Kyiv, and the Department of Commerce’s engagements with the U.S. private sector on Ukraine’s defense, reconstruction and recovery objectives.

Hello everyone! Thank you for the warm welcome from Mayor Robinson and Administrator Hall. I am so pleased to be here in Lake City with my friend, and one of the great leaders of this country, Congressman Clyburn, to celebrate this significant milestone for disaster relief in South Carolina.

Communities in this state are unfortunately no stranger to extreme weather, and like so many other states across the country, the need for robust disaster relief resources could not be greater.

President Biden and Vice President Harris understand that when we protect our communities from the impact of natural disasters and shore up their recovery capabilities, we foster stronger economies, mitigate devastation, and save lives.

At the Department of Commerce, we are focused on creating an economy that works for all Americans, and building resilient infrastructure is key to getting us there.

That’s why our Economic Development Administration has announced the awarding of a $13.5 million grant to Lake City, South Carolina, for water infrastructure improvements needed to support local businesses.

This grant will alleviate flooding in the city, helping to reduce structural and economic damage to businesses, homes, and infrastructure. EDA’s investment will also be matched with $1.3 million dollars in local funds, demonstrating the commitment of this community and the critical importance of partnerships at all levels of government.

This project is one of many funded by legislation championed by leaders like Congressman Clyburn and as a result, nearly half a billion dollars in additional funds were provided to EDA to bolster disaster relief and recovery for areas just like here in Lake City.

Investments like these are crucial in the wake of natural disasters. Just a few short weeks ago, Hurricane Debby passed through and brought torrential rainfall. It’s a clear reminder that the devastating impacts of climate change are here right now and we must act accordingly. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Lake City to protect your economic future.

This type of extreme weather can take a disastrous toll people’s lives and livelihoods, and hinder their ability to lead lives of dignity, but make no mistake: the Biden-Harris Administration is on a mission to change that.

Our goal is not simply to help rebuild disaster impacted areas, but also to help chart this country’s course toward increased economic growth and opportunity – because when America’s communities are protected, its economy prospers. We’re creating an economy where your zip code doesn’t determine your destiny and we’re doing that by making historic investments across the nation that will give communities the launch pad they need to compete and thrive in the 21st century, and create good-paying, family sustaining jobs for the young people in the audience here today.

We’re employing strategies that center equity, so that minority and underserved communities can fully participate in these new opportunities. EDA’s Tech Hub and Recompete Programs, for example, are designed to supercharge innovation – ensuring that the economic benefits of these investments flow through all our communities, not just some. Our Internet for All Initiative is connecting households and businesses across the country to reliable, high-speed internet so that no family has to choose which of their children gets to finish their homework because their bandwidth is limited, and so that small businesses can access a broad market of customers to grow their enterprise, and so that our seniors — no matter how far they live from a doctor —- can always access telehealth when they need it.

This Administration—and our partners in Congress like Congressman Clyburn – have been working around the clock to meet you and your communities where you are, helping you take center stage in policy decisions that affect your daily lives.

I’m excited to see these resources make a real, measurable impact for this city and for this state, and I look forward to working with Congressman Clyburn and leaders across the state to ensure South Carolinian’s safety, security, and success.

Hello everyone! I’m pleased to be here in Rosemont, celebrating this investment with you all.  Thank you to the Sustainability Institute for hosting this event and bringing together this coalition of local and state leaders, including Mayor Cogswell, Mayor Burgess, and Representative Wetmore.  The importance of this work to advance sustainability in South Carolina can’t be overstated.

I would also like to extend a special thanks to my friend Congressman Clyburn –one of our country’s greatest leaders – who could not be here today but is an incredible partner and steadfast advocate for his constituents.

The Biden Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that every community across the country is on a path toward long term prosperity and success. By  making targeted investments designed with your greatest needs in mind, we are one step closer to a stronger and more sustainable tomorrow.

Key to that mission is climate resiliency and ensuring that underrepresented communities have every opportunity to adapt and thrive in our rapidly changing world.

What we know now more than ever is that underserved communities are often the hardest hit by climate change and in low country, access to essential services can be cut off at the first sign of high tide.

That’s why NOAA is committing significant resources to efforts right here in South Carolina that directly support habitat restoration. And this is where The Sustainability Institute comes into the picture.

As a recipient of the Tribes and Underserved Communities Habitat Restoration grant from NOAA, the Sustainability Institute will

• Invest in coastal restoration and climate resilience work along the South Carolina coast, 
• And provide employment opportunities to local community members.

This investment is part of a $45 million dollar commitment supporting 27 different efforts in all corners of our country, funded through landmark legislation, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which were championed by Congressman Clyburn and signed into law by President Biden.

When we uplift communities in need, we all benefit. This work saves lives and secures livelihoods, and it wouldn’t be possible without the leaders alongside me today or the community members who are dedicated to realizing a brighter future for themselves and their loved ones.

We look forward to strengthening our partnership with The Sustainability Institute and continuing to build an economy that works for all South Carolinians, and Americans, together.