    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [January 12, 2006]
    [Pages 58-60]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to a Meeting of Small-Business Owners and Community
    Leaders in New Orleans, Louisiana
    January 12, 2006

        Mr. Mayor, thank you. It's good to be back in your city. I
    appreciate the Lieutenant Governor and
    Members of the United States Congress for being here as well. I

    [[Page 59]]

    particularly want to thank the small-business owners of New Orleans. I'm
    looking forward to hearing what you have to say about your traditions
    and your hopes and your frustrations. We all share the same goal, and
    that's to have this great city rise again, to be a shining part of the
    South.
        It was in the past, and I think this can be a better city, and to
    this end, I've done a couple of things. One, I appointed my friend Don
    Powell to be down here to help implement
    the strategy developed by the mayor and the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. In other words, I believe the best strategy for the
    rebuilding of New Orleans and the revitalization of the parishes around
    New Orleans is for the local folks to design the strategy and to have
    the Federal Government become a partner.
        And I want to thank you for putting a committee together; I know you
    did as well, Mitch. Powell's job is to come down and help interface and
    interact. I've told the people down here that the Federal Government has
    got a major role to play. So far we've appropriated or made available
    $85 billion in reconstruction and relief along the gulf coast. About 25
    billion of that has been spent; there's $60 billion in the pipeline,
    thanks to the good work of the Members of the Congress and the United
    States Senate.
        One issue I do want to touch on is the levees. Now, the mayor made it very clear to me that we need a Federal
    policy, a strong Federal policy on the levees in order to encourage
    investors and investment in New Orleans. In other words, if there's any
    doubt about levees, people wouldn't be willing to reinvest in this city.
    If we couldn't get people to reinvest in this city, the recovery
    wouldn't be as strong as we hope it to be.
        Working with the Corps of Engineers, we've put forth a plan that
    said that the levee system will be stronger and better than the previous
    levee system. And we put a request in for $3.1 billion, plus money to
    study how possibly to make this system even better. Unfortunately, at
    the very last minute in the appropriations process, some Members of
    Congress moved 1.4 billion of that 3.1 billion to projects not directly
    related to New Orleans and the surrounding area. And so, in order to
    make sure that this city gets the money necessary to make sure that the
    levees are stronger and better, Congress needs to restore that 1.4
    billion directly into projects for New Orleans and the surrounding
    parishes. I'm looking forward to working with the Members of the
    Congress to make sure that that money is restored.
        Secondly, I understand that one of the keys to success is going to
    be private-sector initiatives. That's why we've got the small-business
    owners here and the man responsible for making
    sure New Orleans is well represented to the rest of the country, and
    that is Stephen, who is a part of the Chamber. One way to make sure that
    the private sector leads the recovery for New Orleans is to make sure
    the tax laws encourage investment. And I want to thank the Members of
    Congress for passing the GO Zone legislation which encourages
    investment. And that will be helpful for the folks here.
        And finally, I know housing is a particularly difficult issue, an
    important issue. You can't have a revitalized New Orleans unless people
    have a place to live. And we want to--we look forward to working with
    the mayor and the State on implementing the
    vision, but want to remind people that in the new appropriations bill I
    signed is $11.5 billion of CDBG money. In Mississippi, the
    Governor intends to use that money
    on uninsured housing--to pay for the uninsured folks who didn't have
    flood insurance. And the law is written so that the State, in working in
    conjunction with the local authorities, can spend that money in a way to
    help the recovery.
        We're aware of the issues here. I'm looking forward to hearing more
    from you all about how we can continue to work together. I will tell
    you, the contrast between when I was last here and today,
    Stephen,

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    is pretty dramatic. It may be hard for you to see, but from when I first
    came here to today, New Orleans is reminding me of the city I used to
    come to visit. It's a heck of a place to bring your family. It's a great
    place to find some of the greatest food in the world and some wonderful
    fun. And I'm glad you got your infrastructure back on its feet. I know
    you're beginning to welcome citizens from all around the country here to
    New Orleans. And for folks around the country who are looking for a
    great place to have a convention or a great place to visit, I'd suggest
    coming here to the great New Orleans.
        Anyway, thank you all very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:12 a.m. in the New Orleans Metropolitan
    Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, Inc. In his remarks, he referred
    to Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and Lt. Gov. Mitchell J. Landrieu of
    Louisiana; Donald E. Powell, Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance
    Corporation, in his capacity as coodinator of Federal gulf coast relief
    efforts; Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans, LA; Stephen J. Perry,
    president and chief executive officer, New Orleans Metropolitan
    Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc.; and Gov. Haley Barbour of
    Mississippi.