Commerce Secretary John Bryson Lays Out Vision for Department of Commerce

U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson today laid out his vision for how the Department of Commerce can best partner with the business community to support the president's jobs agenda at a speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In the remarks, Bryson outlined his top three priorities to help American businesses 'build it here and sell it everywhere,' focusing on supporting advanced manufacturing, increasing our exports, and attracting more investment to America from all over the world. The former Chairman and CEO of Edison International, Bryson also served as a director on the boards of Boeing and the Walt Disney Company, and as a senior advisor to the private equity firm KKR, and he spoke about his experiences in the private sector and how the Department of Commerce is uniquely situated to support job creation.

"At the Commerce Department, we aren't waiting to act... We have a major role to play at this critical time to support job creation in America. We have an array of tools to help make our businesses more innovative, more efficient, and more competitive around the world," he said. "I want to know how this administration and the Commerce Department can best help you. From these conversations, my discussions with the president and my own personal experience, I will prioritize one simple imperative....to help American businesses build it here and sell it everywhere."

For full release see the Department of Commerce Press Release>>

The Advanced Manufacturing Partnership National Program Office announced today by Secretary Bryson will be housed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The office will be led by Mike Molnar, currently NIST's Chief Manufacturing Officer.

Launched by President Obama in June 2011, the AMP was established on the recommendation of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) and is led by Dow Chemical Company President, Chairman, and CEO Andrew Liveris, and MIT President Susan Hockfield. Investing in fields such as information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology will support creation of good jobs by helping U.S. manufacturers reduce costs, improve quality and accelerate product development.

The AMP National Program Office will include participation from all federal agencies involved in U.S. manufacturing to support interagency coordination of advanced manufacturing programs and to provide a link to the growing number of private-sector partnerships between manufacturers, universities, state and local governments, and other manufacturing-related organizations.