First Lady Laura Bush Delivers Remarks at Texas Delegation Breakfast

SPEAKER: FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH

[*] BUSH: Thank you all. You know, I'm here today because I was going to give a speech tonight on the floor and introduce the President, who we knew was not going to come yesterday, he would come in by video. And then, of course, now, as you know, the Monday night program has been canceled. But I'm already here, and so I wanted to take this opportunity to stop and see as many delegations as I could, and I had to start with my home state, Texas.

(APPLAUSE)

In a little bit, Cindy McCain and I are going to go back to the Louisiana delegation, and I hope I'll be able to stop at a few more. I know everyone is disappointed. People have come from all over the country to the convention, and I know people are disappointed that we won't get to have the great programs tonight, and maybe some more nights; we don't know, we'll have to see. I guess they'll make a decision day by day. But everyone understands, and I know all of you understand, because, of course, Texas is one of those states that will feel the effects of Gustav. And all our sisters and brother states right down the Gulf Coast, we're thinking about them and watching them, and hoping for the very best; hoping the damage won't be too severe.

As we look at it, we're so happy that so many people have evacuated this time, and that the coordination between the federal government, the state governments and the local governments is so much better than it was after Hurricane Katrina. So I think things will -- the response by every level of government is going to be a lot better.

George is in Texas today. He's going to go to Austin, which is serving as one of the headquarters for this storm, and then to San Antonio, which is providing -- where there are refuges for people from the Gulf Coast area. About 4,000 people, I think, have come to San Antonio, one of the cities. And a number, as you probably know, a number of your cities, a number of Texas cities, have volunteered to be cities to open a refuge for people from across the Gulf Coast who are evacuating.

So everyone understands. I know we're disappointed about not having tonight's program, but I also know that we've got business to do, and that that's what you all will be doing when the convention opens at around 2:00 p.m. You will be taking care of all the business that is required by law for us to nominate our great candidate, Senator John McCain, and our great vice presidential candidate.