Locke As Commerce Secretary Good For NW Business
Olympia, WA February 25, 2009 2:26 p.m.
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downloadThe nomination of former Washington Governor Gary Locke to be Commerce Secretary bodes well for Northwest companies. Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports.
Who is Boeing’s vice president for global corporate citizenship? None other than Gary Locke’s former Chief of Staff, Fred Kiga. 
That kind of personal connection is bound to be good for Boeing if the U.S. Senate confirms Locke as Commerce Secretary.
Since leaving office, Locke has done trade work for Microsoft and Starbucks. On the agriculture front, he’s well-versed in Washington’s apple, wheat and other food exports.
In accepting the President’s nomination, Locke outlined the Commerce Secretary’s broad portfolio.
Gary Locke: “The Department of Commerce plays a critical role in nurturing innovation, expanding global markets, protecting and managing our ocean fisheries and fostering economic growth.”
As Washington State Governor, Locke led several overseas trade missions with Northwest companies large and small.
Locke became well known in Asia as the first Chinese-American governor in the U.S.
He would be the third Asian-American in the Obama cabinet.
U.S. Commerce Department |
| The U.S. Commerce Department promotes the nation’s economic growth. There are several agencies and bureaus under the department including: • Bureau of Industry and Security – responsible for advancing U.S. national security, foreign policy, and economic objectives through export control and treaty compliance • Economics and Statistics Administration – analyzes and forecasts economic and social changes as well as develops U.S. economic policy. Oversees the Census and Economic Analysis bureaus • Census – tracks U.S. population trends and is an agency of the Economics and Statistics Administration • Economic Analysis – collects economic data and produces economic statistics and is an agency of the Economics and Statistics Administration • Economic Development Administration – helps economically distressed communities deal with long-term economic issues • International Trade Administration – promotes trade and investment to strengthen U.S. businesses • Minority Business Development – helps establish and promote the growth of minority-owned U.S. businesses • National Institute of Standards and Technology – helps develop science, technology and industry measurement standards. Also responsible for maintaining time standards, including Daylight Savings Time • National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration – responsible for fisheries management, coastal restoration and marine commerce, as well as the National Weather Service forecasts • National Telecommunications and Information Administration – maintains the biggest resource of government-funded scientific, technical, engineering, and business related information. Also responsible for the digital TV transition that was postponed from February to June. • Patent and Trademark Office – registers patents, trademarks, and develops intellectual property protection as well as advising the federal government on patent, trademark, and copyright protection |
© 2009 KPLU
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