    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [March 1, 2007]
    [Pages 206-207]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Meeting With Elected Officials and Community Leaders
    in Biloxi, Mississippi
    March 1, 2007

        Governor and first lady, thanks for your welcome. It's great to be back in the
    gulf coast of Mississippi.
        I've had the privilege of coming down and meeting a lot of these
    folks before, so I really feel like it's, in many ways, a chance to
    reconnect with people who I admire. I can remember the looks on your
    faces when I first came down here during the incredible destruction--
    right after the destruction of Katrina. You know, there was something
    about the spirit of Mississippi, though, that made it clear to me that
    there was no doubt that progress was going to be made.
        Mayor, I remember you and I walking
    through the streets of Biloxi and finding people that were literally
    stunned and were in shock and were wondering what life meant for them.
    And I remember the piles of debris, Mayor, in your city. Or,
    Rocky, I remember talking to you
    when you came, and you had the same set of clothes on for the last 4
    days. You were trying to recover from a brutal devastation in your
    county.
        And I've come back again because I'm inspired every time I come here
    to see progress and the spirit alive. In other words, people here said,
    ``We refuse to be held down by the storm; we will overcome it.''
        The job of the Federal Government has been to help. And I made a
    pledge early on in the process that I would work with the United States
    Congress, members of both political parties, to get some healthy checks
    written. And it's important for the check writers, the taxpayers of the
    United States, to know that progress is being made with their money and
    that the people of Mississippi appreciate the fact that the country came
    to help when they needed help. It's a neighborly thing to do.
        And secondly, I fully understand there's still work to be done, that
    even though progress has been made, this storm was so devastating that
    we have still got to stay focused on the task, and that we've got to
    work with the Governor and the local
    officials, the supervisors and the mayors, to continue to help address
    their needs.
        And one of the things I've heard loud and clear is that there's a
    continued frustration with the slowness of Federal response at times.
    And therefore, it's important for me to hear that, and my friend Don
    Powell to hear that, so that we can come
    and do what the people expect us to do, which is to respond to the needs
    of people in Mississippi.
        I'm very proud of the leadership your Governor has shown. He showed leadership during the storm, he
    showed leadership in the aftermath of the storm, and he continues to be
    deeply concerned about the people of Mississippi. And he, along with two
    fine United States Senators, are constantly talking to the White House in pretty
    plain language about what more needs to be done. And I hope he would say
    that we listen, and if possible, respond in a constructive way.
        I'm proud to be back again. I intend to keep coming back so long as
    I'm the President and perhaps after the Presidency, A.J. Now, A.J. has given me a great gift. Instead of the key
    to the city, he gave me a Biloxi, Mississippi, license plate. It's got
    my name and my number on there. [Laughter] One of these days, I'll own a
    private vehicle, and I may just put this on my vehicle when I come back
    and see you. [Laughter]
        Anyway, thank you all very much. Appreciate you.

    [[Page 207]]

    Note: The President spoke at 11:40 a.m. at Biloxi City Hall. In his
    remarks, he referred to Gov. Haley R. Barbour of Mississippi and his
    wife, Marsha; Mayor A.J. Holloway of Biloxi, MS; and Rodrick ``Rocky''
    Pullman, supervisor, Hancock County, MS.