[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.