Chris Van Hollen: “I rise today to express my support for the confirmation of Governor Gina Raimondo, an experienced and dedicated public…”

“I rise today to express my support for the confirmation of Governor Gina Raimondo, an experienced and dedicated public servant, to be Secretary of the Department of Commerce. I believe Gina Raimondo's extensive leadership experience serving the people of Rhode Island as Governor positions her well to lead the Biden administration's ambitious agenda at the Department of Commerce. As Secretary of Commerce, Governor Raimondo will take on challenges that directly affect my home State of Maryland. That starts with fighting for an inclusive economy with shared prosperity that truly works for everyone. The struggles of low-income and minority communities hardest hit by the pandemic have shone a harsh light on inequities ingrained in our economy. We must root out these structural problems by supporting the work of vital institutions like the Minority Business Development Agency and Economic Development Administration. And small businesses will continue to need assistance for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic and long afterward to ensure that we emerge from this crisis with a more resilient economy. We also need to ensure that the United States can compete in international trade by leveraging the International Trade Administration's enforcement capabilities and strengthen our manufacturing sector by harnessing the power of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, located in Gaithersburg.…”