    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [August 28, 2006]
    [Pages 1563-1564]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Tour of United States Marine, Inc., and an Exchange
    With Reporters in Gulfport, Mississippi
    August 28, 2006

        The President. One of the interesting things I've learned here is
    that the good folks at United States Marine are looking for workers, and
    there's a shortage of workers here in the gulf coast. And the reason I
    bring that up is that if people are looking for work, they should come.
        Obviously, part of the bottleneck is getting housing. And that's why
    we're working with Governor Barbour to make
    sure that the housing money starts moving. But people are going to have
    to--they're coming down to work; they're going to have to have a place
    to live. But what's fascinating about this part of the world is that in
    one year's time, it's gone from despair to hope and that if you're
    somebody who wants to find a job, you can find work in Mississippi,
    good-paying jobs. That's what the man just
    told me who runs the company. There is hope down here. There's still a
    lot of work to be done.
        My message to the people down here is that we understand there's
    more work to be done, and just because a year has passed--the Federal
    Government will remember the people. This is an anniversary, but it
    doesn't mean it ends. Frankly, it's the beginning of what is going to be
    a long recovery. But I'm amazed by the opportunity, and I'm amazed by
    the hope that I feel down here. Anyway, thought you would be interested.

    Federal Government Role in Hurricane Recovery Efforts

        Q. Mr. President, in your remarks a few minutes ago, you talked
    about the role of faith-based organizations. Has the experience down
    here given you a new opinion about what the role of the Government can
    or should be in a situation like this?
        The President. The role of Government here, first and foremost, is
    to provide enough money to say that the rebuilding effort will be
    robust. I felt it was very important for us to be generous, and the
    people of America responded. The people in the gulf coast region have
    got to understand that the American taxpayers have stepped forth with a
    lot of money. And you can't have hope unless there's a reason to be
    hopeful, and the $110 billion was a reason to be hopeful.
        Now, obviously, there's a lot of work to be done, but the Federal
    Government had a very important role to play, and we're playing it, but
    so does the State and local government, whether it be here in
    Mississippi or in Louisiana. The citizens of our country and the
    citizens of this region have had an important role to play. In other
    words, this storm was so big it requires all aspects of American life to
    help the people here. It was a massive storm. It was the largest in the
    Nation's history or at least the most expensive.

    Rebuilding Efforts on the Gulf Coast/Jobs

        Q. How long do you imagine it will be before this area is fully
    rebuilt?
        The President. Well, it's hard for me to say. I would say years, not
    months. On the other hand, the progress in one year's time has been
    remarkable. And I suspect that what you'll see, Toby [Tabassum Zakaria,
    Reuters], is there will be a momentum; momentum will be gathered. Houses
    will begat jobs; jobs will begat houses. And they're just beginning to
    get to that point where the infrastructures are being expanded, the
    houses are going to be--more houses will be added.
        The Governor was talking to me today about
    an interesting modular concept to expedite the people getting out of
    trailers into something more permanent. But the storm was massive in its
    scope. You came down

    [[Page 1564]]

    with me and saw it. Most Americans didn't get to see what it was like.
    It's hard to describe the devastation down here. It was massive in its
    destruction, and it spared nobody. United States Senator Trent
    Lott had a fantastic home overlooking the bay.
    I know because I sat in it with he and his wife. And now it's completely obliterated. There's
    nothing. And I remember coming down here--these giant piles of debris
    were here.
        People say, ``How can we rebuild with debris?'' Now it's gone. Now,
    there's more work, but to answer your question, I can't predict, but I
    do know how massive the effort is going to be, and I know how massive
    it's been. There's just more work to be done. The people down here need
    to know the Federal Government is helping, and we understand that there
    are still issues, and people are still hurting, and people want to get
    into their homes.
        Okay, final question before we all go.

    Funding for Hurricane Recovery Efforts

        Q. Sir, is $110 billion the end of it? And which promises from
    Jackson Square are you finding hardest to make a reality?
        The President. One hundred and ten billion, hopefully, that will
    work. Hopefully, that's enough. It's certainly enough to get us through
    the next period of time. And the hardest part has been to get the State
    reconstruction effort up and running. Mississippi's is up and running.
    In other words, I said early on that the States and local governments
    have got to devise a plan to rebuild. And the reason I said that is
    because the people of Mississippi know best how to rebuild Mississippi,
    and the Governor stepped up, and he put this
    fantastic commission together, and they developed a plan. And now that
    plan has been funded. The money is beginning to go out the door, so
    people can rebuild their lives.
        In Louisiana, it's been a little slower. And I look forward to
    talking to the folks there tomorrow and this evening about what we can
    do to work together to expedite these plans being implemented, because
    we funded the housing. And I think when people begin to see the checks
    that come--that say, ``Okay, here's some money to help you rebuild,''
    they'll have a lot better spirit. They'll feel a lot better about their
    future.
        Anyway, thank you all. Good to see you.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:19 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Gov. Haley R. Barbour of Mississippi; John Dane III, cochairman, United
    States Marine, Inc.; and Patricia Thompson Lott, wife of Sen. C. Trent
    Lott.