The Department of Commerce plays a vital role in fostering economic opportunity and growth in America. In order to fulfill that role with intellectual vigor and ingenuity, the Commerce workforce must comprise motivated employees of superior caliber. The key to attracting and maintaining that workforce is a Department that embraces diversity and equal opportunity for all our employees, and stands firmly against any activity or behavior that is discriminatory.

As we strive to achieve our mission, the Department has a firm commitment to promote true diversity. This is one of our core values. The Department also has a range of specific initiatives designed to promote diversity including intern and mentoring programs; family friendly workplace policies; practices that resolve workplace disputes at the lowest possible level; and policies that encourage developing relationships with other institutions with similar commitments to diversity. These are not all-inclusive, nor limiting; we will look broadly to explore activities that promote, recognize, and value diversity in the workforce, and I expect senior executives to demonstrate leadership in this effort.

Not only is discrimination illegal, it contributes to a dysfunctional workplace. The Department of Commerce cannot serve the American public well unless our employees are in a workplace that is free from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual harassment), national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or retaliation based upon participation in the equal employment opportunity process. I call upon each of you to work to create an organizational culture that embodies mutual acceptance, inclusion and empowerment and firmly rejects all forms of discrimination and harassment.