Deputy Secretary's Speech

Deputy Commerce Secretary David A. Sampson
National Weather Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Norman, Oklahoma

Thank you for that very kind introduction. I am very happy and honored to be here to officially open this beautiful new facility.

I thank all of you for the hard work and dedication that I know it took to build the National Weather Center here on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. To all of you, this is your day!! Congratulations!!

And to President Boren, I thank you for your leadership on the project. Having served the people in government for many years, and now leading the Oklahoma Sooners, you had great foresight in understanding what a valuable asset this is for Oklahomans and the American people.

This is a great achievement. I know the taxpayers will be well-served by this new state-of-the art center. After we cut the ribbon today, it will be the largest weather research center of its kind in the nation--a world-class operation bringing students, researchers and meteorologists under one roof.

More important, it will be the premier facility for tracking severe storms that sweep across the nation, and issuing weather bulletins warning people to get out of harm's way. This is a critical public service.

All of us know the fury of a powerful tornado or severe thunderstorm. All of us know the devastation they can do to a farm, a home, a business or a community. And the loss of life they can cause.

The better and earlier we can predict a coming storm and where it might strike--which this center will be able to do--the more we can prepare and limit the damage. That's a public service that improves the quality of life, and helps protect the ability of the local economy to create jobs and income.

What I think makes the new center truly unique is how it came into being. It was the collaboration of federal, state, and University of Oklahoma leaders coming together for a common purpose.

The synergy is truly unique. I've spent many years working in economic development in Texas and nationally as the head of President Bush's Economic Development Administration. And there are very few projects I've seen that required the level and extent of community teamwork and management execution as we have seen here in Norman.

And to the students here today: you may be the luckiest among us. You will have the exceptional experience of not only having the best teachers and professionals helping you get your education, but you'll be learning in the best-equipped laboratories and classrooms in the country.

We need more scientists, forecasters and researchers. You are the next generation. And all of us look forward to the day you join the ranks of these noble professionals.

Thank you very much.