President George Bush spoke in New Orleans today, ahead of the third anniversary next week of Hurricane Katrina's landfall on the Gulf Coast. The president told the crowd assembled at Jackson Barracks in the Lower 9th Ward that the city and region are making a strong comeback.
"The good future is here," the president announced.
He said that he was right nearly three years ago when he addressed the nation from Jackson Square.
"Not to be an I told you so, but I was in Jackson Square and I predicted that New Orleans would come back as a stronger and better city. That's the prediction I made. I also pledged that I'd help," Bush said. "When I say something, We're gonna get it done."
"It's hard to believe that it was three years ago that Katrina in essence wiped out a lot of this city," the president said. "800,000 people across the Gulf Coast area left their homes. That's a lot.... Never before has our nation seen such destruction by nature."
The president went on to highlight what has been done to help the New Orleans area rebuild, including fixed levees, upgraded floodwalls, and a goal for protecting the region against a 100-year storm by 2011. The president also talked about honoring Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal's request that the state be allowed to pay for its share of the work over 30 years, instead of three.
"New Orleans is on its way back as a stronger and better city.... The message here today is hope is being restored... hope is coming back... and I'm frankly not surprised that hope is marching in."
He also listed what he said is progress in the areas of business, education, health care, housing, tourism and more.
Click here to read the president's remarks...
Listen to President Bush's entire speech:
The president made it clear he is preparing to leave office, but said as he is "sprinting toward the finish" he is still working to see the recovery continue.
He said, "There are people hurting. I fully understand that. People waiting to get back in their home, wondering whether a brighter day is possible. Yet a brighter day is coming."
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