Cole Remarks at Oversight Hearing of the National Weather Service

Thank you, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Meng. Welcome Assistant Secretary Jordan. Thank you for being here today to discuss the importance of the National Weather Service.

It is not an overstatement to say the work of the National Weather Service impacts the daily lives of all Americans.  Because of this, the office must be well resourced and singularly focused on ensuring its forecasts and extreme weather warnings are accurate and available to our constituents when they need them most.

Oklahoma has already set a new seasonal record for most tornadoes just three months into the new year – with 20 recorded just in the month of March. It’s not an if, but a when, for these communities every year during storm season. That is why I am proud to have secured targeted funding increases in FY26 for the National Weather Service to better enable Weather Forecast Offices throughout the country to jump into action when severe weather strikes. The vital work of local Weather Forecast Offices would not be possible without the critical research and infrastructure that underpin forecasters’ understanding and capacity to respond to extreme weather events.

From the world-class research happening at NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations with the University of Oklahoma to the National Severe Storm Laboratory and the Storm Prediction Center – the National Weather Center in Norman, Oklahoma is a crown jewel in our nation’s weather enterprise. The expertise that exists in Norman is unparalleled. I look forward to hearing what more can be done to leverage and support this resource utilizing the advancements local partners have made in enhanced forecasting capabilities.

The National Weather Service’s ability to do so will improve the lead time and accuracy of severe weather forecasts and warnings, ultimately saving lives and reducing damage to family homes, towns, and cities. I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue to provide the National Weather Service with the necessary support to fulfill its critical safety mission. Thank you, again, Chairman Rogers. I yield back.