FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, September 05, 2005
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The White House - Office of the Press Secretary
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President Visits Louisiana, Thanks Volunteers at Shelter |
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Evacuee Shelter
Bethany World Church
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
10:30 A.M. CDT
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.
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 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 -- 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 -- does the government have --
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 PRESIDENT: All levels of government are doing the best they can. If it's
not going right, we'll make it right.
END 10:34 A.M. CDT
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