    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [August 23, 2006]
    [Pages 1552-1553]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Rockey Vaccarella
    August 23, 2006

        The President. I just had coffee with Rockey Vaccarella, St. Bernard
    Parish, Louisiana. He caught my attention because he decided to come up
    to Washington, DC, and make it clear to me and others here in the
    Government that there's people down there still hurting in south
    Louisiana and along the gulf coast.
        And Roc is a plain-spoken guy. He's the kind of fellow I feel
    comfortable talking to. I told him that I understand that there's people
    down there that still need help. And I told him the Federal Government
    will work with the State and local authorities to get the help to them
    as quickly as possible.
        Rockey Vaccarella. That's right.
        The President. He met with my friend Don Powell. Don's job is to cut through bureaucracy. I told Rockey the
    first obligation of the Federal Government is to write a check big
    enough to help the people down there. And I want to thank the Members of
    Congress of both political parties that helped us pass over $110 billion
    of appropriations. And that's going to help the folks. And I told him
    that to the extent that there's still bureaucratic hurdles and the need
    for the Federal Government to help eradicate those hurdles, we want to
    do that.
        Now, I know we're coming up on the first-year anniversary of
    Katrina, and it's a time to remember, a time to particularly remember
    the suffering that people went through. Rockey lost everything. He
    lost--he and his family had every possession they had wiped out. And
    it's a time to remember that people suffer, and it's a time to recommit
    ourselves to helping them. But I also want people to remember that a
    one-year anniversary is just that, because it's going to require a long
    time to help these people rebuild.
        And thank you for your spirit.
        Mr. Vaccarella. Thank you, Mr. President.
        The President. It's an amazing country, isn't it, where----
        Mr. Vaccarella. It is. You know, it's really amazing when a small
    man like me from St. Bernard Parish can meet the President of the United
    States. The President is a people person. I knew that from the
    beginning. I was confident that I could meet President Bush.
        And my mission was very simple. I wanted to thank President Bush for
    the millions of FEMA trailers that were brought down there. They gave
    roofs over people's head. People had the chance to have baths--air
    condition. We have TV; we have toiletry; we have things that are
    necessities that we can live upon.
        But now I wanted to remind the President that the job's not done,
    and he knows that. And I just don't want the Government and President
    Bush to forget about us. And I just wish the President could have
    another term in Washington.
        The President. Wait a minute. [Laughter]

    [[Page 1553]]

        Mr. Vaccarella. You know, I wish you had another 4 years, man. If we
    had this President for another 4 years, I think we'd be great. But we're
    going to move on.
        Mr. President, it's been my pleasure.
        The President. You're a good man, Rockey. Thank you all.
        Mr. Vaccarella. You are too. Thanks a bunch.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:15 a.m. on the South Lawn at the White
    House. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish
    language transcript of these remarks.