Thanks, Rev. Sharpton, and thanks to the Nationwide Motion Community on your tireless work advancing civil rights and increasing alternative for everybody in America.
It’s an honor to be right here right now to speak concerning the work we’ve carried out and the work forward of us to create a greater, extra equal, extra affluent United States of America.
Now, I’m the Secretary of Commerce. And we do a number of issues inside Commerce, from the climate service and fisheries to semiconductors, lasers and broadband web.
However after I grew to become Secretary, I requested our crew so as to add the phrase “for all communities” to our mission, as an express reminder to our practically 50,000 staff that each neighborhood, together with these which were traditionally left behind, want an opportunity to share within the jobs and prosperity that we create within the Biden Administration.
If the work we’re doing leaves behind pockets of America or doesn’t attain into the communities that want us probably the most, we aren’t doing our jobs. We’ll solely achieve success after we develop progress and alternative…for ALL communities.
From our largest grant applications to the routine actions we take on daily basis, fairness underpins the whole lot that we do on the Commerce Division. It’s not simply the suitable factor to do – it’s the suitable factor to do for our financial system. America’s variety is a aggressive benefit, however provided that everybody has a possibility to take part in our financial system and fulfill their potential.
Due to the management of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we’re already seeing outcomes. Final week’s jobs knowledge confirmed that the employment hole between white and Black staff is the smallest it has been in practically 50 years. This is a vital milestone, however it isn’t sufficient. On the Commerce Division we’re persevering with to make investments that can present high-quality jobs for all People, and shut this hole for good.
Our strategy to funding is grounded in folks and locations. The objective is to leverage our nation’s variety and translate that right into a aggressive benefit that can guarantee a affluent future.
Final summer time, we introduced awardees for 2 new applications – the Good Jobs Problem and the Construct Again Higher Regional Problem – which collectively are investing $1.5 billion in workforce growth and regional industries.
I had the privilege of visiting North Carolina A&T, our nation’s largest HBCU, to announce a $23 million Good Jobs Problem award. It’s funding a mission that’s bringing collectively academic establishments, native organizations, and 40 personal sector employers within the clear vitality business to supply focused coaching and 1000’s of job placements throughout 17 distressed counties, together with ten that embody “Black Belt” rural communities.
It’s an instance of how the Good Jobs Problem is constructing a first-of-its-kind expertise pipeline that can deal with the labor scarcity and place 50,000 American staff in good jobs.
It’s additionally a mannequin for a way Commerce will deal with the practically $50 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation to convey high-speed web to each American.
Forty p.c of Black households don’t have high-speed web. This can be a clear barrier to financial alternative in communities which were underserved for much too lengthy. It’s previous time that we shut this digital divide. And it’s not sufficient for it to be accessible – it must be reasonably priced too. Thanks to the Nationwide Motion Community on your efforts on this necessary work. And I need to acknowledge Vice President Harris, who will likely be right here shortly, for her super management on the Administration’s broadband efforts as effectively.
As we put together to launch this $50 billion in funding, we want your assist to verify we shut the digital divide in each state, in each metropolis, and in each neighborhood. Proper now, governors and broadband workplaces across the nation are engaged on plans for a way they’re going to spend these funds. To succeed, we want everybody to make their voice heard. Please go to InternetforAll.gov to learn how to become involved.
We’re additionally working to clear the way in which to success for minority entrepreneurs. Black girls are one of many quickest rising teams of entrepreneurs – they’re the engine of our financial system. By jumpstarting the following era of enterprises, we are going to spur innovation, shut the racial wealth hole and assist construct a extra resilient financial system.
I’m proud that Commerce is residence to the Minority Enterprise Growth Company, the one Federal company devoted to supporting minority-owned companies, enterprises, and entrepreneurs. Underneath the Biden Administration, MBDA was made a everlasting a part of the federal authorities, and the Senate unanimously confirmed Don Cravins Jr. to be the company’s first-ever Underneath Secretary. This can be a testomony to the work MBDA has been doing for many years, and the significance of serving to minority entrepreneurs launch and scale their companies.
Due to the investments we’re making right now below the management of President Biden and Vice President Harris, there will likely be job alternatives within the coming years throughout America which have the potential to alter lives, present family-sustaining advantages, and result in long-term careers. It’s on all of us to make sure that everybody has a shot at these jobs.
I’m enthusiastic about what we will accomplish. If we work laborious and work collectively, we will strengthen our communities, gasoline innovation and prosperity, and guarantee America’s competitiveness within the twenty first century.
Thanks.