MBN USA

February 03, 2023

UnFollow View Profile Send Message Copy Link

UnFollow View Profile Send Message Copy Link

One key accomplishment was dispersing an unprecedented $3 billion through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan to support economic development and recovery

As we welcome 2023, we reflect on some of the most popular stories, issues and accomplishments from 2022. This past year, the Commerce Department remained at the forefront of many critical issues like no other time in history. Commerce played a central role in enacting President Biden's economic, trade, and innovation agenda to build a better America.

One of the most important accomplishments of 2022 was the passage and signing of the of the landmark CHIPS and Science Act. Commerce will be at the forefront of its implementation with $50 billion in funding to create good-paying jobs, spark American innovation, and build more chips in America.

2022 brought significant successes, including enacting decisive export controls to hold Russia accountable for its unwarranted aggression, dispersing an unprecedented $3 billion through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan to support economic development and recovery, awarding $2.3 billion in grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to close the digital divide, and establishing a $100 million program to lift underserved business owners and entrepreneurs.

2022 Commerce Department Highlights

• The Bureau of Economic Analysis provided customers with more timely data on the digital economy and its contributions to overall U.S. economic activity.
• The Bureau of Industry and Security took decisive action through export controls to hold Russia accountable for its unwarranted aggression.
• The U.S. Census Bureau launched the Advancing Equity with Data initiative to produce data that depict an accurate portrait of America, including its underserved communities. This past year also brought the first Latino to serve as the U.S. Census Bureau director.  
• The Economic Development Administration awarded $3 billion in funding for economic recovery and development from the American Rescue Plan.
• The International Trade Administration launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity.
• The FirstNet Authority network celebrated their 5-year anniversary with AT&T and now provides over 4 million connections serving more than 23,000 public safety agencies and organizations.
• The Minority Business Development Agency launched the Capital Readiness Program grant competition to help minority and other underserved entrepreneurs launch and scale their businesses.
• The National Institute of Standards and Technology launched the CHIPS Program and CHIPS R&D Offices.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration took action to build a climate-ready nation with science, service, stewardship, and a sharp focus on equity.
• The National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded $2.3 billion in funding to states, territories, and Tribal communities to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of closing the digital divide.
• The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is promoting inclusive innovation under the new Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022 and launched the Women’s Entrepreneurship initiative to empower more women leaders and advance the conversation around challenges and opportunities for women-owned businesses. 

In honor of the Year 2022, we have compiled a list of the top 22 stories which generated the most attention and encompassed the Commerce Department’s mission to create conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all Americans:

1. U.S. Population Estimated at 332,403,650 on Jan. 1, 2022
2. Commerce Department Identifies Commercial and Private Aircraft Exported to Russia in Apparent Violation of U.S. Export Controls
3. Commerce Implements Sweeping Restrictions on Exports to Russia in Response to Further Invasion of Ukraine
4. Results from Semiconductor Supply Chain Request for Information
5. U.S. Department of Commerce and Bureau of Industry and Security Russia and Belarus Rule Fact Sheet
6. U.S. Department of Commerce Appoints 27 Members to National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee
7. Commerce Semiconductor Data Confirms Urgent Need for Congress to Pass U.S. Innovation and Competition Act
8. Biden Administration Releases Implementation Strategy for $50 Billion CHIPS for American Program
9. National Black History Month: U.S. Census Bureau Releases Key Stats on Nation’s Black Population
10. Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on the U.S. Competitiveness and the China Challenge
11. Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on Signing of CHIPS and Science Act
12. Department of Commerce Issues Preliminary Determination of Circumvention Inquiries of Solar Cells and Modules Produced in China
13. Commerce Restricts the Export of Luxury Goods to Russia and Belarus and to Russian and Belarusian Oligarchs and Malign Actors in Latest Response to Aggression Against Ukraine
14. U.S. Department of Commerce and Bureau of Industry and Security Russia and Belarus Rule Fact Sheet
15. Commerce Department Adds 34 Entities to the Entity List to Target Enablers of China’s Human Rights Abuses and Military Modernization, and Unathorized Iranian and Russian Procurement
16. Fact Sheet: 2022 National Travel and Tourism Strategy
17. Commerce Department Expands Restrictions on Exports to Russia and Belarus in Response to Ongoing Aggression in Ukraine
18. U.S. Department of Commerce Appoints First Members to Industrial Advisory Committee—Will Advise on CHIPS for America’s R&D Efforts
19. BIS Takes Enforcement Actions Against Three Russian Airlines Operating Aircraft in Violation of U.S. Export Controls
20. Commerce Imposes Sweeping Restrictions on Belarus for Enabling Russia’s Further Invasion of Ukraine
21. Remarks by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on the U.S. Competitiveness and the China Challenge
22. Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo on Signing of CHIPS and Science Act

In 2023, the Department of Commerce will continue to work every day to promote job creation and economic growth through innovation, equity, and resilience. These three pillars drive our work at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and they’re crucial to our overarching goal of improving America’s competitiveness in the global economy.