The services and resources that the Commerce Department puts into building on America's Advantages are investments for economic growth -- because the growth, jobs, opportunities, and prosperity that come from this work spread across America, delivering wages, careers, and greater economic security. Still, just as many of America's largest corporations have embraced the need for efficiency, so too has the Commerce Department embraced the need to do more with less. Whereas the Cold War forced us to measure America's standing in terms of military security, today economic stature defines our place in the world. With that change comes a more important role for the Commerce Department to ensure and enhance economic opportunity for all Americans. The President recognizes the importance of the Department of Commerce in protecting and promoting our economic resources, and sees in America's Advantages the investment in people, technology, and trade that will pay dividends to our nation far into the future. тълен трым Ronald H. Brown Secretary of Commerce Bridge from 1996 and 1997 Appropriations to 1996 and 1997 Budget Authority Comparison of 1997 Estimate with 1995 and 1996 Appropriations Enacted to Summary of Requirements with Detail of Adjustments-to-Base Comparison by Bureau of Adjustments-to-Base, 1997 Estimate Program FY 1997 COMMERCE BUDGET IN BRIEF INTRODUCTION Fiscal Years 1995 and 1996 have been a period of unprecedented challenge and change within the Department of Commerce. Founded in 1903, Commerce has been strengthened over the years with programs that are essential to the Nation's economic well-being. However, in 1995 and 1996 Commerce found itself under pressure from the Congress to scale back some of its most effective programs, to eliminate others, and indeed, to go out of existence as a Cabinet agency. If this were to happen, a major blow would be dealt to the Nation -- America's exporting efforts would be hampered, our technological advancements would be slowed, the Nation's environmental stewardship activities would suffer, and our businesses and communities would be hurt through an absence of economic information and developmental assistance. Overall, the Administration's efforts to spur the Nation's economy and to increase job creation would be reduced dramatically. The Commerce Department of 1995 and 1996, and the one envisioned for 1997, no longer resembles the Commerce Department of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Rather than operating as 14 unrelated bureaus contained within one umbrella Department, we have sharpened significantly our mission and our capacity to tie programs together, all to the measurable benefit of the American people. Even while our budget has remained at a constant-dollar level below that of 1980, Commerce has been a sparkplug for the Nation by spurring economic development, technology and infrastructure investments, and significant job creation activities across all segments of the American economy. Our initiatives have enabled us to contribute measurably to the President's successful efforts to help shrink the Federal deficit and to drive economic growth. The FY 1997 budget request for the Department of Commerce is $4.267 billion, an increase of $618 million over the FY 1996 Continuing Resolution provided by Congress (but $398 million, or 9%, below the President's FY 1996 request of $4.665 billion). Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employment in FY 1997 will be 35,500 FTE, just 289 more than the FY 1996 level of 35,211 FTE (but 199, or .6%, below the President's FY 1996 request of 35,699 FTE). America's greatest advantage is, and always has been, our people. This diverse and vibrant workforce is at the heart of our productivity, our ability to meet challenges, and our very success as a nation. The unique American approach to problems, which couples determination with creativity, has allowed American workers to prosper and businesses to thrive. The Department of Commerce directly supports the American people, with programs ranging from assistance to businesses and communities across the nation, to ensuring stewardship for the nation's environmental resources. Most of these programs are within the Economic Development Administration, the Minority Business Development Agency, parts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Census Bureau. The Economic Development Administration (EDA) provides financial assistance nation-wide to communities that experience persistent unemployment or a sudden shift in their economic base. EDA focuses on long-term economic recovery for communities by providing a wide-range of resources in areas such as planning and technical assistance, public works, natural disaster recovery, and responses to Department of Defense base closures. These resources foster the |