George H.W. Bush

By waiving customary State and local cost sharing requirements, I can provide maximum Federal assistance to the people of Florida whose lives have been so severely disrupted by this disaster.

I salute Connie and all the others across this great country of ours who reach out to help their neighbors.

Mr. Chapman will help address the needs of the people in south Florida and marshal private sector resources in the local community.

I am determined to do my part, as I know Lamar is and as I know everyone out there is, to keep this effort out of partisan politics.

Assistance for temporary housing, crisis counseling, and disaster unemployment will continue to be 100 percent federally funded where allowed under the law.

I encourage all Americans to observe this week with appropriate programs and activities.

I don't have it now. Note: The President spoke at 11:05 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. Gordon Sullivan, Army Chief of Staff in charge of the Federal forces involved in the recovery efforts…

I just would strongly urge the American people to participate in any way they can by supporting these volunteer organizations.

This has got to be a long-term commitment, as I'm sure everyone here knows.

I'll tell you, it's really the best in the American spirit, what's happening there.

And these will be the times that test this commitment, to guarantee to the victims of this terrible tragedy that we're with them for the long haul.

I am pleased to announce that the Russian Federation and the United States have now also initialed an agreement to ensure that highly enriched uranium from dismantled nuclear weapons will be used only for peaceful purposes.

This U.S.-Russian agreement illustrates how foreign policy accomplishments can promote our domestic economic well-being while making the world a safer place to live.

No. We're talking about something that's very serious business here, and I'm going to keep on this subject. I want the American people to understand what we're trying to do to solve this big problem, Federal, State, and local governments…

I don't think we have any estimates on that. Director Darman is here, who has the total view in mind. But we haven't--unless Wally, did you want to---- Director Stickney. No, sir, I think it's too early.

We're not talking about delay. The military was ready to move instantly, hot planning right from the very beginning. And there's no point going back trying to dig up difficulty between one government agency or another. I said that…

Yes. I think I made that statement the other day, that we are prepared.

I think real progress is being made, but there's still an awful lot of human suffering there.

Well, I gather that's the case right now. But we made clear to Governor Edwards that if more was required, please let us know. I think we had assurance on that. I didn't talk to him. I've been trying to get hold of him. But one of our…

No. I don't know what area they've not responded in. Listen, if anybody can do the job better, why, we'll be pushing them to do it better. Louisiana

Well, any time you have this massive an operation I suppose, as the young major I heard on the television right now, he said, ``Well, there's a glitch from time to time, but it's overwhelmed by the fact that so much good is happening.''…

I think I said that publicly when I was in Florida on Tuesday--was it Tuesday I was down there? But when I was there he was standing right next to me, and we did talk about that, yes. I think we've had a good, cooperative relationship. I…

Sunday the planning began, and they activated the planning before the hurricane struck. They were giving me reports on what possibly we would use in terms of assets.

No political consideration. I'd very much would like to be there and regret not going. But I've got my responsibilities here, and I think I can do that from here. Then I'm going to be at Camp David. We've got excellent communications; it's…

Well, I think I'll be having meetings here over the weekend. I'll be down here either tomorrow or Sunday for a report from the people on the ground down there. I don't want to pull them out of there right now, but I think it is very…