Department of Commerce

The purpose of the U.S. Department of Commerce is “to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce” of the United States to ensure that “the United States continues to play a lead role in the world economy.” The current mission statement of the Department of Commerce states that it “creates the conditions for economic growth and opportunity by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and stewardship.” The Department of Commerce seeks to promote job creation and improve living standards for all Americans.

The Department of Commerce and Labor (32 Stat, 826; 5 U.S.C. 591) was created by the U.S. Congress on February 14, 1903. On March 4, 1913, President William Howard Taft authorized renaming it the U.S. Department on Commerce following the creation of the U.S. Department of Labor (37 Stat. 737; 5 U.S.C. 616). The Department of Commerce is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and normally employs over 35,000 persons. Temporary staffing during the Decennial Census increases the number of employees to over 500,000 persons.

The Office of the Secretary of the Department provides general management for its operating units, supports the formulation of policy, and provides advice to the president of the United States. The Departmental Management (DM) supports the Office of the Secretary, and develops and implements policy for the Department of Commerce affecting U.S. and international activities.

Operationally, the Department of Commerce is composed of 12 bureaus or administrations: the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) with its Bureau of the Census (Census) and its Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the International Trade Administration (ITA), the Minority Business Development Agency (MB DA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) enforces effective export control and treaty compliance and promotes strategic technology leadership. The Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) provides economic research and policy analysis in support of the secretary of commerce and the president.

The Bureau of the Census maintains the U.S. Census, which serves as an important source of economic and demographic data about and for the American people in support of effective decision making by policy makers, businesses, and individuals. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) also produces timely, relevant, and accurate economic statistics that are used by policy makers, business leaders, households, and individuals for financial decision making.

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) promotes favorable business environments across the country through its Economic Development Assistance [Page 497]Program, which enhances economic capacity by planning and building infrastructure investments and making grants to regions, states, and communities. The International Trade Administration (ITA) supports the development, negotiation, promotion, and implementation trade laws and agreements and also ensures compliance with them and the enforcement of them. The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) promotes the ability of minority-owned businesses to grow and participate in the global economy through a network of centers that provide business assistance services.

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