The purpose of today's hearing is not to assign blame. This isn't about us. It isn't about a press release or a bill introduction or a media opportunity.

This is about students. Teachers. Families. Communities. This hearing is about learning what goes into protecting our schools and preventing violence.

While the initial shock may have begun to subside, the questions remain.

Thank you for testifying at the February 27, 2013 hearing on 'Protecting Students and Teachers: A Discussion on School Safety.'

I propose we come together, just as the families are in every school district and community nationwide, to have a comprehensive discussion on school safety.

To get the two of you talking smoothly on the same platform without the ability to reach outside the system is not the way we want to go.

I think this last part that was being brought up is actually critical.

People want us to take action to reduce gun violence and to make our communities safer.

I have been doing a lot of thinking and a lot of soul searching the last several months.

I do not have to imagine a deranged man using a 100-round clip to kill 12 people at a movie theater.

Let us really do something to improve the treatment and the access to treatment for children and for adults.

The private sector input into this is going to be critical.

While I am disappointed in how some of this rolled out, I also think putting it in the context of where the private sector is at on this.

If you want a truly interoperable system, both streamlining data and protecting the patient, that is going to be a critical component too.

I am so proud of your work, the administration's work, your staff's work.

I have actually seen doctors in action doing it. We do it with some of our low-income immigrant groups, as well as our Native American families.

Could you set up a meter that would watch how much I am using to consume for my basic needs versus my lawn care?

water comes down to, as you so eloquently said, a basic human right.