We have to be sure we are there with them.

I look forward to discussing these absolutely critical issues with our witnesses today, and learning about how we can restore U.S. leadership in weather forecasting.

Our prayers are with the people of Oklahoma. This tragedy highlights the importance of real time forecasting to protect lives and property.

We can do better.

We have seen the devastating effects that severe weather can have on this country, and this bill would establish a priority mission for all of NOAA to improve forecasts and warnings to protect lives and property.

We need a world-class system of weather prediction in the United States--one, as the National Academy of Sciences recently put it, that is 'second to none.'

Superstorm Sandy made clear what many in the weather community have known for years: Our model for weather prediction has fallen behind Europe and other parts of the world.

Simple fact of the matter is people are dying, people are being made sick.

Since the great events in Michigan, where a bunch of my constituents and others were killed, we have seen that the compounders have continued their same merry practices of disregarding the law.

We have a responsibility to see to it that we clarify that as a part of our oversight responsibilities.

I have long believed that we must provide agencies like FDA with clear authorities and necessary responses to properly help and to carry forward their mission.

One of the things we have do is to clarify it so that everybody knows who is supposed to and who can do what.

We acutely need greater clarity on oversight structures for large-scale compounding.

Does FDA have the authority to require all compounding pharmacies to register with the agency?

Does FDA believe nontraditional compounders should be subject to appropriate good manufacturing practices the way manufacturers are?

Let's put these rascals in the compounding industry into a place where they have law to obey.

We must stop questioning whether the FDA needs new authority.

I would urge us to move forward on legislation, effective legislation.