Official Name: Department of Commerce (DOC)
Mission Statement: The historic mission of the Department is "to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and domestic commerce" of the United States. This has evolved, as a result of legislative and administrative additions, to encompass broadly the responsibility to foster, serve, and promote the Nation's economic development and technological advancement. The Department fulfills this mission by:
a. Participating with other Government agencies in the creation of national policy, through the President's Cabinet and its subdivisions.
b. Promoting and assisting international trade.
c. Strengthening the international economic position of the United States.
d. Promoting progressive domestic business policies and growth.
e. Improving comprehension and uses of the physical environment and its oceanic life.
f. Ensuring effective use and growth of the Nation's scientific and technical resources.
g. Acquiring, analyzing, and disseminating information regarding the Nation and the economy to help achieve increased social and economic benefit.
h. Assisting states, communities, and individuals with economic progress
Director: Secretary of Commerce, Carlos M. Gutierrez
Number of Employees: 38,000
Budget:
| |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
| |
Actual |
Estimate |
Budget |
| Mandatory Budget Authority |
12,839 |
2,240,850 |
133,111 |
| Discretionary Budget Authority |
6,626,038 |
5,627,578 |
6,553,000 |
| Total Budget Authority |
6,638,877 |
7,868,428 |
6,686,111 |
| Mandatory Outlays |
(79,838) |
141,707 |
543,576 |
| Discretionary Outlays |
6,454,259 |
6,038,627 |
6,539,258 |
| Total Outlays |
6,374,421 |
6,180,334 |
7,082,834 |
FY2008 Budget
Hot Button Issues:
- Gas prices
- International Trade
- Unemployment
History:
1903 - The Department of Commerce and Labor was created by the Act of February 14 (32 Stat. 826; 5 U.S.C. 591).
1905 - The Bureau of Manufactures was established.
1913 - The Department of Labor was created by the Act of March 4 (37 Stat. 737; 5 U.S.C. 616). The designation Department of Commerce and Labor was changed to the Department of Commerce.
1926 - A Federal policy on commercial aeronautics was established by the Act of May 20 (44 Stat. 568) placing the administration of commercial aeronautics under the Department of Commerce. The Aeronautics Branch was created within the Department.
1945 - Reorganization of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce resulted in the establishment of the Office of International Trade, Office of Small Business, Office of Domestic Commerce, Office of Field Operations, and Office of Business Economics, all within the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce (Department Order 10 of December 18).
1949 - The Hoover Commission reported March 1 to the Congress its recommendation on reorganization of the Department of Commerce.
The Office of Transportation and the Transportation Council were established (Department Order 128 of November).
1951 The Defense Air Transportation Administration was created.
The Office of Business Economics was established as a primary organization unit of the Department.
1955 - The Office of International Trade Fairs was established (Department Order 15, Amended, of December 1).
1961 - The United States Travel Service was established by the International Travel Act of 1961.
1965 - The Economic Development Administration (EDA) was established.
The Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Weather Bureau were consolidated to form the Environmental Science Services Administration.
1969 - The Office of Minority Business Enterprise was established by the Secretary.
The Office of Telecommunications was established by the Secretary.
1970 - NOAA was formed, succeeding the Environmental Science Services Administration.
The National Technical Information Service was established by the Secretary September 2, 1970, under authority of 15 U.S.C. 115 1.
1971 - Executive Order 11625 expanded the programs and activities of the Office of Minority Business Enterprise.
1972 - The Office of Business Economics was renamed the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
1977 - Establishment of the Industry and Trade Administration by the Secretary.
The Department of Energy Organization Act transferred the Office of Energy Programs to the Department of Energy.
1980 - The International Trade Administration was established on January 2, 1980, by the Secretary.
1982 - The Office of Productivity, Technology and Innovation was established pursuant to the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Act of 1980
1987 - The United States Export Administration was created. January 1988 the name was changed to the Bureau of Export Administration.
1988 - The Technology Administration was established to promote the Nation's economic competitiveness
Key Agencies