[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.