Richardson Accepts Offer to Serve As Commerce Secretary

NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON:

Mr. President-elect, this is a great honor.

There are some who speak of a team of rivals. But I've never seen it that way. Past competitors, yes. But rivals implies something harder edged and less forgiving. And in the worlds of diplomacy and commerce, you open markets and mines not with rivalry but instead with partnership and innovation and hard work.

There's a vital role for the Department of Commerce in our economic recovery. The official role of the department is job creation, economic growth, sustainable development, and improving living standards -- the same goals of your economic plan, Mr. President-elect.

The unique strengths of the department and its talented public servants make it that natural agency to serve as a programmatic nerve center in America's struggle to rejuvenate our economy.

The catch phrases of your economic plan: Investment, public/private partnerships, green jobs, technology, broad-band, climate change and research; that is the Department of Commerce.

RICHARDSON: Boosting commerce between states and nations is not just a path to solvency and growth; it's the only path. With your leadership, Mr. President-elect, America will once again be a forefront of innovation, especially in the new frontier of energy independence and clean energy jobs. We will create technologies the world is seeking, while creating millions of new jobs that can never be outsourced. We will revitalize our nation's historic strength in manufacturing, while restoring our position of respect in the world.

And finally, let me say how proud I've been to serve as governor of the state that I love. New Mexico, I will never forget you, and I will forever be grateful. And to Barbara, my wife, and the rest of my family, thank you.

And it will be a great honor, to serve once again, a president, who recognizes that America's diverse heritage is its greatest strength. Thank you.

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