[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 9 (Monday, March 5, 2007)]
[Pages 231-232]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

[[Page 232]]

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.

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