Barbara Mikulski

Money is too scarce, the missions are too important for it to go into something where we don't have anything to show for it.

Oh, we inherited a mess from the last administration, but we did.

Well, let me, right then go to one of my favorite topics, which is NOAA.

Well, I want to get right to the information technology issues and I'm going to translate that to the words of cybersecurity.

Well, Mr. Secretary, we know we've got a lot of followup to do.

That's how we'll do it, but we're--again, we're into the cost overrun.

We had to junk the hand-held computers.

We need to have strong management at NOAA, and we'll come back to that.

Mr. Secretary, I want to come back to NOAA. The reason is that, if you look at your appropriations request, it's $8.9 billion for the entire Commerce Department...

I presume that would be based on the rate of return, by then.

This includes our great iconic universities, Hopkins in Maryland, and our private sector.

We will be intensifying our outreach efforts to small- and medium-sized companies that are already engaged in exporting.

But, it means, then, if you're small- to medium sized, you've got to pick your country, and you've got to find your foreign commercial service officer.

Looking at the President's request, there have been requests for increased funding in the International Trade Administration.

We believe, in order to create jobs and also fulfill the mission of the Commerce Department and its agencies, you need the right resources.

Mr. Secretary, we've got a big agenda and a little bit of time, so why don't you proceed?

Those 3 months are really the follow-up months.

I think this is what is different from our country. I mean, we have got to be able to get together, put it out on the table, speak uncensored and unfettered, and let us solve some of these problems.

We all have to feel we are in this together. So this isn't about finger pointing and so on, rather that we all have to take ownership for the safety offices.

I also believe that we need to pass not only the President's budget, but I think we need to pass what the President is recommending in rail reform, giving FTA more authority.

If you can't get to work, even if you have had the best rehab, or keep your doctor's appointment, but there needs to be a way then to consider how at the national level to be able to do that.

WMATA does need reliable revenue streams.

We need to be able to have that communication.

I would strongly recommend in the interim, people who have those concerns bring it to those that they elected to represent them in the workplace.

It hasn't improved because the employees who would utilize that type of system don't know that it even exists.