[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 31 (Monday, August 6, 2007)]
[Page 1041]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

August 3, 2007

    Good morning. Today I'm traveling to Minneapolis to the site of 
Wednesday's tragic bridge collapse. Like millions of Americans, I was 
shocked and saddened when I heard the news that the I-35 bridge gave way 
during rush hour. The bridge was a major traffic artery, and when it 
collapsed dozens of cars fell into the Mississippi River.
    Laura and I join all Americans in mourning those who lost their 
lives and in sending our thoughts and prayers to their families. And we 
pray that those injured will make a full recovery.
    On Thursday morning, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and 
Federal Highway Administrator Richard Capka traveled to Minneapolis. 
They announced $5 million in immediate Federal funding for debris 
removal and to help restore the flow of traffic. This is just the 
beginning of the financial assistance we will make available to support 
the State in its recovery efforts. Several Federal agencies are on the 
ground aiding State and local officials, including the National 
Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 
the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental 
Protection Agency.
    I recognize how important the I-35 bridge is to the State of 
Minnesota, and my administration is committed to working closely with 
Governor Pawlenty and Mayor Rybak to rebuild this bridge as quickly as 
possible.
    In times of tragedy, our hearts ache for those who suffer, yet our 
hearts are also lifted by acts of courage and compassion. We saw those 
qualities in the residents of a nearby apartment building who rushed to 
the scene to offer their help. We saw them in the divers who fought the 
mighty currents of the Mississippi to reach victims, and we saw them in 
the firefighters who searched car to car for survivors.
    Among the survivors was a group of kids returning from a summer 
field trip. Their school bus had just passed over the Mississippi River, 
when the bridge below them gave way. The bus dropped more than 20 feet 
and came to rest on the guardrail of the collapsed bridge span. A staff 
member named Jeremy Hernandez quickly swung into action. He broke open 
the backdoor and helped evacuate the terrified children to safety. The 
mother of one of the children on board credited Jeremy's presence of 
mind with helping spare her daughter from tragedy. She put it this way: 
``I don't know what he was thinking, but it must have been something 
really good.''
    Our country is fortunate to have brave and selfless citizens like 
Jeremy, and all those who risked their own safety to aid in the rescue. 
This is a difficult time for the community in Minneapolis, but the 
people there are decent and resilient, and they will get through these 
painful hours. As they do, they know that all of America stands with 
them, and that we will do all we can to help them recover and rebuild.
    May God bless those who are hurting in Minneapolis, and may God 
bless our wonderful country. Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 7:50 a.m. on August 3 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 4. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
August 3. In his radio address, the President referred to Gov. Tim 
Pawlenty of Minnesota; and Mayor R.T. Rybak of Minneapolis, MN. The 
Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of this address.