[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 36 (Monday, September 12, 2005)]
[Pages 1354-1355]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Hurricane Katrina Recovery Efforts and an Exchange With 
Reporters in Baker, Louisiana

September 5, 2005

    The President. Listen, Laura and I have come back down to Louisiana, 
and then we're going over to Mississippi to let the good people of this 
region know there's a lot of work to be done, and we're going to 
continue working with the local and State people to get it done.
    The first mission, of course, is to save lives. And so long as any 
life is in danger, we've got work to do, and they're going to continue 
to save lives, whether it be in New Orleans or the surrounding parishes 
or up and down the coast of Mississippi.
    Secondly, we can help save lives once a person finds a shelter such 
as this. That means getting people food and water and medicine and help 
and in a place like this, love.

[[Page 1355]]

    I want to thank the pastor for having us. I want to thank my friend 
T.D. Jakes for rallying the armies of compassion to help somebody like 
the mayor.
    The response of this country to--has been amazing. But T.D. tells me 
about church family members of his who have adopted 20 people of the--
from New Orleans. The pastor here has got his gymnasiums full of 
families, and volunteers are now responding to help the families. I want 
to thank every family member who's helping somebody who has been 
displaced. I want to thank every church member who's helping people who 
are displaced--who have been displaced.
    America can be proud of the efforts of the churches and synagogues 
and mosques and community organizations that are helping these people. 
And this is a long-term project, to help these people. And this country 
is going to be committed to doing what it takes to help people get back 
on their feet. And that's why I've come back to this State, and that's 
why I'm going to Mississippi.
    Again, I want to thank the pastor. The response of this church is 
indicative of the response of many around this Nation, and I mean cities 
big and cities small, families with, you know, who have got a lot of 
money and families with little money, all opening their arms to a 
brother and sister in need.
    And again, I want to thank you, pastor. Thank you, T.D., for helping 
to call people to action. I want to thank the mayor, thank the folks of 
Louisiana. We've got a lot of work to do, and that's why I'm here to 
tell people, we'll get it done.
    Thank you all.
    Q. [Inaudible]--does the Government have----

Ongoing Relief Efforts

    The President. So long as anybody's life is in danger, we've got 
work to do. That's why I want people to be assured we're going to do it. 
And--but remember, this is a project that not only deals with the 
immediate; we're going to have to deal with the long term as well. The 
immediate needs are being taken care of right here, and I fully 
understand there's a lot of work to be done.
    Q. [Inaudible]----the Federal Government doing the best it can now?
    The President. I think all levels of Government are doing the best 
they can. If it's not going right, we'll make it right.

Note: The President spoke at 10:30 a.m. in the evacuee shelter at the 
Bethany World Prayer Center. In his remarks, he referred to Larry 
Stockstill, senior pastor, Bethany World Prayer Center; Bishop Thomas D. 
Jakes, Sr., chief executive officer, The Potter's House of Dallas, Inc., 
Dallas, TX; and Mayor Melvin L. ``Kip'' Holden of Baton Rouge, LA.