FY 2006 PERFORMANCE &
ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT
AMERICAN JOBS,
AMERICAN VALUES
U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF COMMERCE
Th
e D
epa
rtment at a Glance
History and Enabling Legislation
The Department of Commerce is one of the oldest cabinet-
level departments in the United States Government. Originally
established by Congressional Act on February 14, 1903 as the
Department of Commerce and Labor (32 Stat. 826; 5 U.S.C.
591), it was subsequently renamed the U. S. Department of
Commerce by President William H. Taft on March 4, 1913
(15 U.S.C. Section 1512). The defined role of the new Depart-
ment was “to foster, promote, and develop the foreign and
domestic commerce, the mining, manufacturing, and fishery
industries of the United States.”
Mission
The Department of Commerce creates the conditions for
economic growth and opportunity by promoting innovation,
entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and stewardship.
Bureaus
Economic Development Administration (EDA)
Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA)
Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
Census Bureau
International Trade Administration (ITA)
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Technology Administration (TA)
Under Secretary
National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST)
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA)
Strategic Goals
Goal 1: Provide the information and tools to maximize U.S.
competitiveness and enable economic growth for American
industries, workers, and consumers
Goal 2: Foster science and technological leadership by pro-
tecting intellectual property, enhancing technical standards,
and advancing measurement science
Goal 3: Observe, protect, and manage the Earth’s resources
to promote environmental stewardship
Management Integration Goal: Achieve organizational and
management excellence
Location