[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.