The
recovery of the Gulf Coast region will be one of the largest
reconstruction efforts the world has ever seen. And I have made a pledge
of the American people: Throughout the area hit by the hurricane, we
will help our citizens rebuild their communities and their lives.
Our strategy rests on three commitments. Our first commitment is to
meet the immediate needs of those who had to flee their homes and leave
all their possessions behind. As of this week, more than 500,000 evacuee
families have gotten emergency help to pay for food, clothing and other
essentials, and they will receive broader help in the future. I've asked
for, and the Congress has provided more than $60 billion, an
unprecedented response to an unprecedented crisis.
Our second commitment is to help the citizens of the Gulf Coast put
their lives back together and rebuild their communities. Our goal is to
get people out of shelters by the middle of October. So we're providing
direct assistance to evacuees that will allow them to rent apartments,
and we're beginning to bring in mobile homes and trailers for temporary
use in affected areas. We'll also help provide housing for the many
workers who will rebuild cities in the region, so that reconstruction
can move forward quickly.
To relieve the burden on local health care facilities in the disaster
areas, we're sending extra doctors and nurses, and setting up
well-supplied temporary community health centers. A number of states
have taken in evacuees and shown them great compassion, admitting
children to school and providing health care. So I'll work with Congress
to ensure the states are reimbursed for these extra expenses.
Our third commitment is to ensure that the communities we rebuild
emerge better and stronger. Out of this tragedy comes an opportunity to
harness the good and gracious spirit of America, and deliver new hope to
neighborhoods that were suffering before the storm. Our reconstruction
efforts will be guided by certain principles: When cities are rebuilt,
those cities should have many new businesses, including minority-owned
businesses. When houses are rebuilt, more families should own, not rent,
those houses.
To achieve these aims I've proposed the creation of a Gulf
Opportunity Zone in the disaster area, with immediate tax relief and
other incentives for job-creating investment. And to encourage home
ownership, I have proposed a new urban homesteading act, which would
identify property in the region owned by the federal government, and
provide lots to low-income citizens free of charge, through a lottery.
In return, they would pledge to build on the lot with either a mortgage
or help from a charitable organization like Habitat For Humanity.
As we rebuild homes and businesses we will renew our promise to be
the land of equality and decency. And one day Americans will look back
at the response to Hurricane Katrina and say that our country grew not
only in prosperity, but also in character and justice.
Our citizens have responded to this tragedy with action and prayer.
We ask God's comfort for the men and women who have suffered so much. We
pray that the missing find safe return, and those who were lost find
holy rest. And we sought the strength of the Almighty for the difficult
work that lies ahead.
In the life of our nation we have seen that wondrous things are
possible when we act with God's grace. From the rubble of destroyed
homes we can see the beginnings of vibrant new neighborhoods. From the
despair of lives torn asunder we can see the hope of rebirth. And from
the depth of darkness we can see a bright dawn emerging over the Gulf
Coast and the great city of New Orleans.
Thank you for listening.