[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 35 (Monday, September 4, 2006)]
[Pages 1518-1520]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 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. The reason I bring that up 
is that if people are looking for work, they should come.
    Obviously, part of the problem is getting housing. 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. It's the beginning of what is going to be a long 
recovery. But I'm amazed by the opportunity; 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, a few minutes ago, in your remarks a few minutes 
ago, you talked about the role of faith-based organizations. Has the 
experience down here given you a

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new opinion about what the role of the Federal 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, 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.
    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 an important role to play, because this 
storm was so big it requires all aspects of American life to help the 
people. 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 are going to be added.
    The Governor was talking to me today about an interesting modular 
concept to expedite people getting out of trailers into something more 
permanent. But the storm was massive in scope. You came down with me and 
saw it. But 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 house 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. 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.

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 dollars, 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 a 
State reconstruction effort up and running. Mississippi's is up and 
running. Of course, 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. 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.

Note: The President spoke at 3:19 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi; John Dane III, cochairman, United 
States Marine, Inc.; and Patricia Thompson Lott, wife of Senator C. 
Trent Lott. A tape was not

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available for verification of the content of these remarks.