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

<R04>
Remarks Following a Visit With Gulf Coast Grant Recipients in Long 
Beach, Mississippi

March 1, 2007

    You know, it's interesting to come back down here to the gulf coast. 
I tried to think back about what it was like the first time I came after 
the storm hit. And I guess the--my most vivid recollection is the piles 
of rubble, literally debris stacked upon debris. It was--it's hard to 
believe then that I would be--I had faith that I'd be able to come to a 
home, but I had trouble visualizing it. And then I kept coming down, and 
I watched the improvement, because of the hard work of the local 
citizens, people like the mayor here and the Governor, who set a vision 
that was a hopeful vision.
    The Federal Government's role has been to write checks. The 
Governor's role and the mayor's role is help to expedite the Federal 
money to the local folks. And today we are able to sit in a homeowner--
the Woodward's home. Again, one of the things I like to say is, when 
somebody walks in, ``Welcome to my home.'' And it has a special ring to 
it here in the gulf coast, because there was a time when their home was 
totally destroyed.
    Part of the reason I've come down is to tell the people here in the 
gulf coast that we still think about them in Washington, and that we 
listen to the Governor when he speaks. The other reason I've come down 
is I want the taxpayers of the United States to see firsthand what their 
money has done to help revitalize a series of communities that were 
literally wiped out because of a major storm.
    It's a--this is a hopeful day. There's obviously a lot more work to 
be done. You can see vacant lots where there's going to be new building. 
There's still work to be done here in Mississippi, and the Governor and 
I are going to go listen to some of the local officials describe to me 
what's on their mind and how we can continue to help. But times are 
changing for the better, and people's lives are improving, and there is 
hope. And I congratulate the good folks in this part of the country for 
their resiliency, their courage, and the fact that they never abandoned 
hope.
    So thank you for giving us a chance to come by. We're proud to be 
with you. Love being with you. Thank you all for your hospitality. 
Appreciate it. Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 10:11 a.m. at the home of Cheryl and Ernie 
Woodward. In his remarks, he referred to Mayor William Skellie, Jr., of 
Long Beach, MS; and Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi.