[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 10 (Monday, March 13, 2006)]
[Pages 416-417]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on New Home Construction in Gautier, Mississippi

March 8, 2006

    The President. It's good to hear people hammering, isn't it?
    Governor Haley Barbour. It really is. It's great for us in 
Mississippi.
    The President. It is. People are building their lives back. And one 
of the reasons I've come down here is to remind people that there's 
still a lot of people hurting. And I talk to the Governor all the time 
about what we can do to make sure this part of the world rebuilds. It's 
great to see rebuilding.
    Haley has been real good about talking to us about a variety of 
issues. I want to thank you for your leadership.
    Gov. Barbour. Mr. President, thank you. Let me just say publicly, 
thank you. In the last day, President Bush and the Bush administration 
has made the fifth extension of the deadline for the Government to cover 
100 percent of debris removal and other emergency measures. And this 
extension is to June 30th, when we ought to be through.
    And first, I want to say thank you for that. You know, it's been a 
huge issue for these little communities, that they don't have any tax 
base--so thank you for that. That was made public yesterday. I'm glad to 
announce today that last night HUD approved our plan for our homeowner 
grant program. We intend to make $4 billion of community development 
block grant money from the Federal Government available to 
Mississippians, like Jerry and Elaine, so that they can rebuild their 
homes or build new homes, to get themselves out of the flood plain.
    Tomorrow, we have been allowed by HUD to post our plan. You can see 
it on our web site, mshomehelp--m-s-h-o-m-e-h-e-l-p--.gov, and we'll 
have to have a 2-week comment period, at the end of which we'll start 
taking applications. But somebody can go onto the web site now, Mr. 
President, or at noon tomorrow, and find out all the information they 
need to get, what all the rules are. And I'm pleased to say that the 
Akins qualify.
    The President. That's good.
    Gov. Barbour. They built this house up above the new flood plain, 25 
feet above sea level, which is one of the requirements so that we reduce 
risks. And thank you for doing that.
    The President. I always felt that it was really important to say to 
the Governor and to local folks, ``Come to Washington with a plan to 
help people rebuild.'' I really didn't want the plan to be designed by 
Washington people; I wanted it to be designed by local folks. And Haley 
has put together a Mississippi plan. He not only put the plan together; 
he also came to Washington, DC, and helped get the plan funded--with the 
help of two fine United States Senators----

[[Page 417]]

    Gov. Barbour. The best pair of United States Senators in the 
country.

    The President. ----and Members of the House. And so I want to 
congratulate you and your team for putting together a good plan. Our job 
and our purpose is to help people like the Akins rebuild. And we want 
this part of the country rising up from the devastation. You know, 
people really didn't lose their spirit down here. But our job is to make 
sure that that spirit is able to kind of recapture the hope and optimism 
of the people and let that spirit flourish.

    And I want to thank you for being a good leader. I appreciate you 
all having us. Listen, thanks. After all that work I've done, I'm 
thirsty. [Laughter]

    Mr. Jerry Akins. Yes, sir. We have some lemonade, and we have some 
refreshments.

    The President. You do? That's good. The other thing that's 
interesting is that we've got the Allens here from the Allen Brothers 
Construction Company; these are local folks----

    Gov. Barbour. The Martins. [Laughter]

    The President. The Martins. As I said, the Martins. You probably 
thought I said, the Allens. [Laughter] I said, the Martins. [Laughter]

    You know, one of the interesting things is that there is going to be 
a lot of work, and here are the entrepreneurs with their sons helping to 
build this man's house. It's neat to be with them. Small businesses, if 
they seize the opportunity, are going to flourish. And that's what we 
want. These small construction companies are going to have work to do.

    The other thing about the Martins, one of the boys won the Purple 
Heart in Iraq. There he is right there. It's my honor to congratulate 
him for serving the country. Thank you. At any rate----

    The First Lady. Now we're going to present Jerry and Elaine a flag 
for your new house.

Note: The President spoke at 1:10 p.m. at a new home construction site.