[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.