    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [January 30, 2002]
    [Pages 136-137]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Roundtable Discussion on Homeland Security in
    Winston-Salem, North Carolina
    January 30, 2002

        Listen, I want to thank you very much. Mr. Mayor, thanks a lot. I'm honored to be here with the chief of
    the fire department and the chief of the
    police department and other citizens concerned
    about the safety of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
        We're here because this community has figured out a while ago that
    there needs to be a collaborative effort amongst providers to provide an
    emergency response plan in case something were to happen. I'm here to
    highlight the success of this community. I'm here to highlight the fact
    that we've got people from different jurisdictions sitting down to
    develop a strategy response in case something were to happen.
        Last night I talked about the need for this country to have a strong
    homeland security strategy. It starts at the local level. And so part of
    our plan to make sure the country is more secure is to encourage cities
    and counties to develop a homeland defense strategy for their area,
    similar to what is taking place here in Winston-Salem.
        So I'm here to congratulate you all and herald a fine collaborative
    effort. One of the interesting byproducts of planning for a disaster and
    working with the Federal Government when it comes to homeland security
    is, your community will be strong before and afterwards, that there will
    be a better health care system afterwards, safer neighborhoods
    afterwards.

    [[Page 137]]

        And I want to again thank you for your hospitality. It's good to be
    in the great State of North Carolina. And I'm glad to show off to the
    Nation what is possible when people of good will and good heart get
    together and say, ``I'm going to do my job in a collaborative effort to
    make my community safer.''
        So, thanks, Sylvia. Good work.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:47 p.m. at the Center for Community
    Safety, part of Winston-Salem State University. In his remarks, he
    referred to Mayor J. Allen Joines of Winston-Salem; John Gist, chief,
    Winston-Salem Fire Department; Linda Davis, chief, Winston-Salem Police
    Department; and Sylvia Oberle, executive director, Center for Community
    Safety. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    these remarks.