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1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,830 Mr. Gibbs: All right. Settle down. 2 00:00:01,834 --> 00:00:06,734 Everybody's attendance is quicker today. 3 00:00:06,734 --> 00:00:11,104 Before I take your questions, we're going to hear from our 4 00:00:11,100 --> 00:00:14,800 Administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:20,100 Craig Fugate, to give you all an update on the flooding in 6 00:00:20,100 --> 00:00:24,070 Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as the storms that we all saw 7 00:00:24,066 --> 00:00:29,296 last evening in Oklahoma. 8 00:00:29,300 --> 00:00:31,570 Administrator Fugate: Thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. 9 00:00:31,567 --> 00:00:34,097 The last couple weeks we've seen a lot of severe weather moving 10 00:00:34,100 --> 00:00:38,270 through the southeast Atlantic states and Gulf Coast areas, 11 00:00:38,266 --> 00:00:41,466 including now central parts of the U.S. 12 00:00:41,467 --> 00:00:43,767 Yesterday, as many of you know, we had a rather significant 13 00:00:43,767 --> 00:00:47,467 tornado outbreak across Tennessee going into Arkansas 14 00:00:47,467 --> 00:00:50,397 -- right now, reported five fatalities, numerous injuries. 15 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,270 And we have been in contact with the state team there 16 00:00:53,266 --> 00:00:54,136 since last night. 17 00:00:54,133 --> 00:00:56,363 We already had a presence in Oklahoma from previous 18 00:00:56,367 --> 00:00:58,737 disasters, so we're working with Albert Ashwood, 19 00:00:58,734 --> 00:01:00,404 the State Emergency Management director, 20 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,870 and his team there requesting that we conduct joint damage 21 00:01:03,867 --> 00:01:08,367 assessments with state for both impact to survivors 22 00:01:08,367 --> 00:01:09,967 as well as government. 23 00:01:09,967 --> 00:01:12,297 They have no outstanding federal response needs, 24 00:01:12,300 --> 00:01:14,400 which is -- given the severity of the tornadoes, 25 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,430 many people say, well, why isn't FEMA responding? 26 00:01:16,433 --> 00:01:18,203 And the answer is because in many disasters, 27 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,230 the local and state responders are dealing with the response 28 00:01:21,233 --> 00:01:23,633 phase and they're assessing whether or not they're going 29 00:01:23,633 --> 00:01:25,963 to need federal assistance for recovery. 30 00:01:25,967 --> 00:01:29,137 But earlier in the week we did see another severe weather 31 00:01:29,133 --> 00:01:31,663 outbreak, this time manifested in heavy rainfall across 32 00:01:31,667 --> 00:01:34,637 Tennessee, Kentucky, as well as Mississippi. 33 00:01:34,633 --> 00:01:37,863 And that did result in significant flood damage, 34 00:01:37,867 --> 00:01:40,397 particularly in Tennessee, where the governor requested 35 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,300 on Monday of last week an expedited major presidential 36 00:01:43,300 --> 00:01:45,770 disaster declaration -- which, on Tuesday, 37 00:01:45,767 --> 00:01:49,737 the President concurred with and declared that a disaster did 38 00:01:49,734 --> 00:01:52,604 exist in the state of Tennessee. 39 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,170 Prior to that we actually had folks working with Tennessee, 40 00:01:55,166 --> 00:01:56,966 as we knew the severe weather was impacting 41 00:01:56,967 --> 00:01:58,437 the state with the flooding. 42 00:01:58,433 --> 00:02:01,603 We have regional offices, 10 of them, and our office of Atlanta, 43 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:04,200 the region which covers the state of Tennessee, 44 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,970 deployed staff in Saturday evening and began working 45 00:02:06,967 --> 00:02:07,967 with the state. 46 00:02:07,967 --> 00:02:10,737 But once again, much of the response was being done by local 47 00:02:10,734 --> 00:02:14,404 responders, state officials, volunteers and other groups. 48 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,570 And so, again, our role in this response was to support 49 00:02:17,567 --> 00:02:19,797 recovery, and that recovery I'm afraid is 50 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:21,070 going to be substantial. 51 00:02:21,066 --> 00:02:23,666 So far, just as of this morning, 52 00:02:23,667 --> 00:02:27,937 over 23,000 people in the state of Tennessee have registered for 53 00:02:27,934 --> 00:02:28,964 individual assistance. 54 00:02:28,967 --> 00:02:30,367 Right now we have already approved in 55 00:02:30,367 --> 00:02:34,767 our system $51 million for individual assistance. 56 00:02:34,767 --> 00:02:37,137 Much of this is going to individuals who have lost 57 00:02:37,133 --> 00:02:38,763 their homes and not had flood insurance 58 00:02:38,767 --> 00:02:40,567 or had uninsured losses. 59 00:02:40,567 --> 00:02:43,667 And we expect these numbers to continue to increase as 60 00:02:43,667 --> 00:02:44,697 we do that outreach. 61 00:02:44,700 --> 00:02:48,570 And again, through your ability to get the word out to folks, 62 00:02:48,567 --> 00:02:50,997 the process of beginning that assistance with FEMA 63 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:52,670 is to register. 64 00:02:52,667 --> 00:02:55,137 So if you've been in the state of Tennessee or watching that -- 65 00:02:55,133 --> 00:02:57,333 we've been talking a lot about this -- is you've got to 66 00:02:57,333 --> 00:03:01,763 register at 1-800-621-FEMA to start this process. 67 00:03:01,767 --> 00:03:04,137 After Monday, I had actually met with the governor and 68 00:03:04,133 --> 00:03:05,303 brought his request back. 69 00:03:05,300 --> 00:03:08,330 I went back Thursday and particularly wanted to get out 70 00:03:08,333 --> 00:03:10,763 to some of the more rural areas of the state, western Tennessee. 71 00:03:10,767 --> 00:03:12,337 There's a lot of focus on Nashville, 72 00:03:12,333 --> 00:03:15,003 so the tendency is -- the images you're seeing is that Nashville 73 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,630 got hit hard; what about the rest of the state? 74 00:03:17,633 --> 00:03:21,203 And I can assure you that what you saw in Nashville was being 75 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,630 replicated across the state, moving all the way over into 76 00:03:24,633 --> 00:03:27,433 Shelby County in Memphis, little communities such as Millington, 77 00:03:27,433 --> 00:03:29,003 up where Russia Naval Air Station is, 78 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,570 got heavily impacted. 79 00:03:30,567 --> 00:03:34,397 Small towns throughout rural Tennessee, heavily damaged, 80 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:35,970 flooded businesses still under water. 81 00:03:35,967 --> 00:03:37,997 In fact, on Thursday when I was there, 82 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,630 you still had water rising in parts of the river system 83 00:03:40,633 --> 00:03:42,803 there -- a lot of impacts, agricultural, 84 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:44,970 but a lot of impacts to homes. 85 00:03:44,967 --> 00:03:47,297 And, unfortunately, again, not many people 86 00:03:47,300 --> 00:03:48,570 have flood insurance. 87 00:03:48,567 --> 00:03:49,997 We're going to be working to support that. 88 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,270 But the great story out of Tennessee was the level of 89 00:03:54,266 --> 00:03:57,136 participation of volunteers -- faith-based organizations, 90 00:03:57,133 --> 00:04:00,533 local responders, the state, and our role as the federal 91 00:04:00,533 --> 00:04:02,963 government in support in the recovery phase. 92 00:04:02,967 --> 00:04:07,197 Since that time, Secretary Napolitano was there Saturday, 93 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,200 met with the governor's team to address issues. 94 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,500 We've had Secretary Locke. 95 00:04:12,500 --> 00:04:16,270 We've had Secretary Donovan yesterday, 96 00:04:16,266 --> 00:04:17,996 SBA Administrator Mills there today. 97 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,270 One of the things we know about these large-scale disasters is 98 00:04:20,266 --> 00:04:22,336 FEMA does not provide all of the tools necessary for 99 00:04:22,333 --> 00:04:23,933 a complete recovery. 100 00:04:23,934 --> 00:04:26,804 In this case, with the duration and the types of disasters, 101 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:29,970 it's going to require a full federal response and a full 102 00:04:29,967 --> 00:04:32,937 federal recovery going far beyond our FEMA program. 103 00:04:32,934 --> 00:04:36,104 So we already have been working at the President's direction to 104 00:04:36,100 --> 00:04:38,900 start addressing not only the immediate needs of the 105 00:04:38,900 --> 00:04:41,100 survivors, but also beginning to look at long-term recovery 106 00:04:41,100 --> 00:04:43,530 for the state of Tennessee. 107 00:04:43,533 --> 00:04:47,003 This response, again, on top of tornadoes previously in the week 108 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,600 in Mississippi and Alabama, today President Obama has 109 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,470 declared the state of Kentucky now as part of the disaster 110 00:04:53,467 --> 00:04:54,897 from last weekend. 111 00:04:54,900 --> 00:04:57,630 And we continue to respond in support of those survivors, 112 00:04:57,633 --> 00:05:00,333 those communities -- but through the state teams. 113 00:05:00,333 --> 00:05:03,233 The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and FEMA 114 00:05:03,233 --> 00:05:06,133 have actually put together a Facebook page to help 115 00:05:06,133 --> 00:05:08,433 update people with fast moving information, allowing 116 00:05:08,433 --> 00:05:10,663 people to share information. 117 00:05:10,667 --> 00:05:11,837 We'll get you that information. 118 00:05:11,834 --> 00:05:13,504 It's kind of one of these long-winded things. 119 00:05:13,500 --> 00:05:17,430 It's like tndisasterinfo -- "tn" -- for 120 00:05:17,433 --> 00:05:19,603 Tennessee -- disasterinfo (www.facebook.com/TNDisasterInfo). 121 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,330 But again, the idea of starting to use more and more the tools 122 00:05:22,333 --> 00:05:23,803 that are reflected for people. 123 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:27,170 And then the last piece before I'll turn it back over for 124 00:05:27,166 --> 00:05:30,596 questions is when you're dealing with these situations, 125 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,630 a lot of our stuff we've always done on the Web. 126 00:05:32,633 --> 00:05:34,563 Well, if your home is flooded you don't have Internet -- I 127 00:05:34,567 --> 00:05:37,037 can't get to the Web; how do I get information? 128 00:05:37,033 --> 00:05:38,733 Fortunately, about two weeks ago, 129 00:05:38,734 --> 00:05:41,404 we had been working on something to get out a mobile version of 130 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:44,100 our website, so if you have your phone you can get information in 131 00:05:44,100 --> 00:05:45,670 a format for you. 132 00:05:45,667 --> 00:05:49,597 So if you go to m.fema.gov with your phone, 133 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,600 you can get information that's tailored for you, the survivor, 134 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,330 to figure out very quickly the sources of information, 135 00:05:55,333 --> 00:05:58,203 get those links, and be able to get assistance without having to 136 00:05:58,200 --> 00:05:59,830 go through the full website. 137 00:05:59,834 --> 00:06:02,364 That just happened to be something that came online, 138 00:06:02,367 --> 00:06:04,797 but it's really, I find, very useful for people who are not 139 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,470 at home, probably staying at a hotel, staying with friends, 140 00:06:08,467 --> 00:06:09,767 or staying somewhere else like a shelter, 141 00:06:09,767 --> 00:06:10,697 trying to get information. 142 00:06:10,700 --> 00:06:14,930 So, again, m.fema.gov, 1-800-621-FEMA. 143 00:06:14,934 --> 00:06:17,164 In all these states where we have individual assistance 144 00:06:17,166 --> 00:06:19,566 declared, the first step is to register. 145 00:06:19,567 --> 00:06:23,697 And the last part is, we cannot do this response without the 146 00:06:23,700 --> 00:06:27,370 communities themselves, the state, and the federal family. 147 00:06:27,367 --> 00:06:29,237 It's like I tell people, FEMA is not a team; 148 00:06:29,233 --> 00:06:30,833 we're part of a team. 149 00:06:30,834 --> 00:06:32,364 And we're there supporting the governors on behalf of 150 00:06:32,367 --> 00:06:34,637 the President and Secretary Napolitano 151 00:06:34,633 --> 00:06:37,963 in this initial response phase. 152 00:06:37,967 --> 00:06:40,237 Mr. Gibbs: We've got time for a few questions because we've got 153 00:06:40,233 --> 00:06:42,133 to get the Administrator to the Oval Office. 154 00:06:42,133 --> 00:06:45,103 He and the President are going to talk to Governor 155 00:06:45,100 --> 00:06:47,130 Henry from Oklahoma. 156 00:06:47,133 --> 00:06:49,463 The Press: When we were in Tennessee on Saturday, 157 00:06:49,467 --> 00:06:50,897 we talked to Secretary Napolitano, 158 00:06:50,900 --> 00:06:53,300 and she said that the extent of FEMA's ability 159 00:06:53,300 --> 00:06:55,030 to help was limited. 160 00:06:55,033 --> 00:06:57,763 Given how many people there did not have flood insurance, 161 00:06:57,767 --> 00:07:01,197 how heavily impacted they are and how limited the FEMA aid is, 162 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,570 where do you suggest these people go, beyond that? 163 00:07:04,567 --> 00:07:07,767 I mean, obviously $29,000 isn't enough if you've lost your home 164 00:07:07,767 --> 00:07:09,297 and you don't have flood insurance. 165 00:07:09,300 --> 00:07:10,170 Administrator Fugate: That is correct. 166 00:07:10,166 --> 00:07:12,696 That's, I think, part of the reason why -- we look at 167 00:07:12,700 --> 00:07:15,400 disasters a lot differently than probably in the past, 168 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:16,770 and we know that it takes a full federal 169 00:07:16,767 --> 00:07:18,897 team to support recovery. 170 00:07:18,900 --> 00:07:21,830 We have a lot of programs that Secretary Donovan brings to the 171 00:07:21,834 --> 00:07:24,734 table, with the HUD Community Block Development Grant; 172 00:07:24,734 --> 00:07:26,004 other types of programs that help. 173 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,530 Plus another thing that we've not always done well on the 174 00:07:28,533 --> 00:07:32,163 federal side, and that is really collaborate with faith-based and 175 00:07:32,166 --> 00:07:35,296 volunteer organizations that can oftentimes provide labor and 176 00:07:35,300 --> 00:07:38,430 other assistance to people in trying to rebuild their homes, 177 00:07:38,433 --> 00:07:40,763 where we can use our dollars for materials. 178 00:07:40,767 --> 00:07:43,537 And so, again, if you come in and you do what I call a 179 00:07:43,533 --> 00:07:45,703 federal-centric or government-centric response to 180 00:07:45,700 --> 00:07:47,670 these disasters, you're going to have a lot of unmet needs, 181 00:07:47,667 --> 00:07:49,897 because we do have very defined programs and limits 182 00:07:49,900 --> 00:07:51,070 to those programs. 183 00:07:51,066 --> 00:07:53,366 But if you look at a team approach and looking at what are 184 00:07:53,367 --> 00:07:55,467 the resources in a community; where are we going to be able 185 00:07:55,467 --> 00:07:58,637 to pull resources together to address particularly those folks 186 00:07:58,633 --> 00:08:01,403 that just are not going to have many other options -- for a lot 187 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:03,530 of folks, some of the more affluent neighborhoods, 188 00:08:03,533 --> 00:08:07,033 SBA disaster loans will help them get their homes repaired. 189 00:08:07,033 --> 00:08:09,633 But for those that don't have the ability to do the loans and 190 00:08:09,633 --> 00:08:12,603 where our grants may not be able to return their home back to a 191 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,300 useable condition, partnered with volunteers and other 192 00:08:15,300 --> 00:08:19,000 groups as part of a team effort gets us to those unmet needs. 193 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,230 And so this is our approach of not just looking at what one 194 00:08:21,233 --> 00:08:23,703 program can do, but how do we leverage the entire federal 195 00:08:23,700 --> 00:08:26,630 family to recognize there's a lot of other resources in the 196 00:08:26,633 --> 00:08:29,563 community that we have tended not to bring to bear or work 197 00:08:29,567 --> 00:08:30,737 in a coordinated fashion. 198 00:08:30,734 --> 00:08:32,904 Oftentimes, they were trying to do one thing -- we're over here, 199 00:08:32,900 --> 00:08:33,670 we're not talking. 200 00:08:33,667 --> 00:08:35,437 And we don't help the survivors. 201 00:08:35,433 --> 00:08:38,163 The Press: Who leads that? Is it your team? Or is the state? 202 00:08:38,166 --> 00:08:38,936 Administrator Fugate: It's a joint team. 203 00:08:38,934 --> 00:08:41,734 We go into a coordinated response with the state. 204 00:08:41,734 --> 00:08:43,204 I have a federal coordinating officer, 205 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:44,600 as appointed by the President. 206 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:45,930 It's Gracia Szczech -- she's there, 207 00:08:45,934 --> 00:08:47,534 worked a lot of disasters before. 208 00:08:47,533 --> 00:08:50,163 And we work with TEMA, the Tennessee Emergency 209 00:08:50,166 --> 00:08:51,236 Management Agency. 210 00:08:51,233 --> 00:08:54,133 And then at each local level, you have various groups, 211 00:08:54,133 --> 00:08:56,333 but generally coordinated through the county or city 212 00:08:56,333 --> 00:08:57,433 emergency operations centers. 213 00:08:57,433 --> 00:09:00,963 So one of the groups that we were working with or talking to, 214 00:09:00,967 --> 00:09:03,537 that set up some of the first information center was All 215 00:09:03,533 --> 00:09:07,003 Hands, a volunteer organization that was already working, 216 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:09,400 getting information to the survivors in the aftermath 217 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:10,300 of the disaster. 218 00:09:10,300 --> 00:09:13,570 So it's our ability to, one, work with the state as a team, 219 00:09:13,567 --> 00:09:17,037 and then bring in and work with some of the more traditional 220 00:09:17,033 --> 00:09:19,403 volunteer organizations like Red Cross and Salvation Army, 221 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,030 but also some of their very localized -- or may only be 222 00:09:22,033 --> 00:09:25,163 in one community. 223 00:09:25,166 --> 00:09:27,766 The Press: The Tennessee delegation sent a letter to the 224 00:09:27,767 --> 00:09:31,467 President today asking for a separate appropriation 225 00:09:31,467 --> 00:09:32,837 in the supplemental. 226 00:09:32,834 --> 00:09:37,334 I wonder if he's had a chance to consider that yet. 227 00:09:37,333 --> 00:09:42,103 Mr. Gibbs: I will check with legislative affairs to see if the request 228 00:09:42,100 --> 00:09:45,000 has been received and what it might be. 229 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,100 I'll have them check on that. 230 00:09:47,100 --> 00:09:48,430 Yes. 231 00:09:48,433 --> 00:09:50,603 The Press: I'm wondering if either one of you can talk about 232 00:09:50,600 --> 00:09:54,370 the administration take on the Hill hearing today where BP and 233 00:09:54,367 --> 00:09:58,537 the other companies are sort of pointing fingers everywhere -- 234 00:09:58,533 --> 00:10:02,603 Mr. Gibbs: I'll do that when we get to -- if you guys have any more -- 235 00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:04,700 The Press: Is FEMA going to have any role in the oil 236 00:10:04,700 --> 00:10:05,830 clean-up at this point? 237 00:10:05,834 --> 00:10:09,104 Administrator Fugate: FEMA has already had a role. 238 00:10:09,100 --> 00:10:10,970 You understand that we're dealing with a separate 239 00:10:10,967 --> 00:10:14,997 statutory authority and a separate funding stream to 240 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,930 respond to an oil spill where you have a responsible party. 241 00:10:17,934 --> 00:10:19,904 So a lot of people go, well, what's FEMA's role? 242 00:10:19,900 --> 00:10:22,400 Our role as part of DHS, as part of the President's team, 243 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,800 is a support role to our lead agency within DHS, Coast Guard. 244 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,770 We've been supporting them with actual staff as far as public 245 00:10:28,767 --> 00:10:33,637 information and liaison roles, but we don't do a lot of flood 246 00:10:33,633 --> 00:10:35,203 -- we don't do a lot of oil spill stuff, 247 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,000 so we are more of a support role. 248 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,770 But we've been engaged from the very beginning. 249 00:10:40,767 --> 00:10:42,897 I was actually involved in one of the briefings with the 250 00:10:42,900 --> 00:10:46,800 President early on when the initial aftermath was still 251 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,670 focused on search and rescue. 252 00:10:48,667 --> 00:10:51,597 And so our job at FEMA I think is a little bit different than 253 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,800 what you've probably seen before in that how we responded to 254 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,330 Haiti, how we responded to the oil spill, 255 00:10:55,333 --> 00:10:57,703 where FEMA is not the lead agency. 256 00:10:57,700 --> 00:11:00,670 The President commits the full team; we all have support roles. 257 00:11:00,667 --> 00:11:02,097 And in this case, our support role is, within DHS, 258 00:11:02,100 --> 00:11:04,630 is to the Coast Guard for some of their coordination staffing 259 00:11:04,633 --> 00:11:07,533 issues of some things that we can add to their response. 260 00:11:07,533 --> 00:11:11,463 But in many cases, this would not be untypical of another 261 00:11:11,467 --> 00:11:13,637 federal agency having the lead where FEMA is still in 262 00:11:13,633 --> 00:11:14,663 a support role. 263 00:11:14,667 --> 00:11:15,497 Mr. Gibbs: April. 264 00:11:15,500 --> 00:11:17,570 The Press: Is FEMA financially able to handle all of these 265 00:11:17,567 --> 00:11:19,197 disasters right now? 266 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,100 Because we understand recently FEMA was running out of money 267 00:11:22,100 --> 00:11:25,700 and there was a call for more money from Congress to -- more 268 00:11:25,700 --> 00:11:27,000 money for FEMA. 269 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:28,870 Administrator Fugate: You're referring to the disaster recovery fund, 270 00:11:28,867 --> 00:11:31,067 which is an allocation that we're given based 271 00:11:31,066 --> 00:11:34,096 upon potential disasters, also dealing with previous 272 00:11:34,100 --> 00:11:35,970 disasters in the past. 273 00:11:35,967 --> 00:11:39,237 Around the February time frame, we were running to a point where 274 00:11:39,233 --> 00:11:41,863 our fund balance was getting below what we were comfortable 275 00:11:41,867 --> 00:11:44,067 with, having to deal with existing disasters and future 276 00:11:44,066 --> 00:11:47,536 disasters, so we go into what we call immediate needs funding. 277 00:11:47,533 --> 00:11:50,703 And what that means is we are still funding response, 278 00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:53,430 individual assistance, and immediate needs, 279 00:11:53,433 --> 00:11:56,963 but we have stopped all funding for permanent work going all the 280 00:11:56,967 --> 00:11:59,767 way back to disasters prior to Katrina. 281 00:11:59,767 --> 00:12:02,937 So we have limited our funds to just those things that are 282 00:12:02,934 --> 00:12:06,234 necessary to do a response, to meet initial needs, 283 00:12:06,233 --> 00:12:08,733 take care of individuals, the survivors of the disaster, 284 00:12:08,734 --> 00:12:11,804 but we have stopped all of our permanent work until we get a 285 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:13,370 supplemental to support that. 286 00:12:13,367 --> 00:12:15,837 The Press: So for this immediate funding, with this immediate needs 287 00:12:15,834 --> 00:12:18,704 funding, I mean, how long does it take for this money to run out? 288 00:12:18,700 --> 00:12:21,330 How much money do you need, or how much money do you have to 289 00:12:21,333 --> 00:12:23,433 deal with these emergencies? 290 00:12:23,433 --> 00:12:24,533 Administrator Fugate: It's really kind of an unknown. 291 00:12:24,533 --> 00:12:26,333 Given where we are right now with Tennessee, 292 00:12:26,333 --> 00:12:27,103 we're still fine. 293 00:12:27,100 --> 00:12:28,930 We're still responding, but it is finite. 294 00:12:28,934 --> 00:12:30,834 And so again, we are working. 295 00:12:30,834 --> 00:12:32,934 The House has passed the supplemental request. 296 00:12:32,934 --> 00:12:34,164 It's now with the Senate. 297 00:12:34,166 --> 00:12:38,466 We have done things to really minimize our impacts and be 298 00:12:38,467 --> 00:12:40,437 able to continue to focus on response. 299 00:12:40,433 --> 00:12:44,163 And we continue that as we await final resolution on replenishing 300 00:12:44,166 --> 00:12:46,096 the disaster recovery fund. 301 00:12:46,100 --> 00:12:48,370 The Press: How much is in the supplemental? 302 00:12:48,367 --> 00:12:52,567 Administrator Fugate: The request from OMB and us as we worked this up is 303 00:12:52,567 --> 00:12:54,767 $5.1 billion. 304 00:12:54,767 --> 00:12:56,067 The Press: You mentioned Katrina. 305 00:12:56,066 --> 00:12:58,166 I wonder if you could just tell us a little bit about how much 306 00:12:58,166 --> 00:13:01,636 the lessons learned from Katrina are guiding you in Tennessee and 307 00:13:01,633 --> 00:13:03,863 what those lessons learned are. 308 00:13:03,867 --> 00:13:05,537 Administrator Fugate: To me, the big lesson was -- I was actually the 309 00:13:05,533 --> 00:13:08,203 state director in Florida during that time frame; 310 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:10,200 I was there through the hurricane and stuff 311 00:13:10,200 --> 00:13:13,730 -- was you got to go in as a team, you got to work as a team, 312 00:13:13,734 --> 00:13:15,834 and you got to focus on survivors. 313 00:13:15,834 --> 00:13:18,704 And I think we've been able to demonstrate, 314 00:13:18,700 --> 00:13:21,570 with the President's leadership, our commitment to that and his 315 00:13:21,567 --> 00:13:23,367 commitment to bring the full team to bear. 316 00:13:23,367 --> 00:13:25,197 It's not one of these things where one agency 317 00:13:25,200 --> 00:13:27,500 is trying to solve all the problems by themselves. 318 00:13:27,500 --> 00:13:29,500 We really bring together the expertise of all the agencies 319 00:13:29,500 --> 00:13:32,430 and look at what the needs are. 320 00:13:32,433 --> 00:13:35,603 The Press: When hurricane season starts in, what, two or 321 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:36,870 three weeks, what -- 322 00:13:36,867 --> 00:13:37,867 Administrator Fugate: Twenty-one days. 323 00:13:37,867 --> 00:13:40,567 (laughter) 324 00:13:40,567 --> 00:13:42,897 The Press: -- what shape are you in when a first big storm hits? 325 00:13:42,900 --> 00:13:44,170 Will you be able to handle it? 326 00:13:44,166 --> 00:13:46,066 Administrator Fugate: Well, the first big storm -- generally hurricane season 327 00:13:46,066 --> 00:13:48,996 may start June 1st, but really the time frame when you start 328 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,070 seeing the more devastating hurricanes tends to be about 329 00:13:52,066 --> 00:13:54,536 August, mid-August through. 330 00:13:54,533 --> 00:13:57,103 Again, we are resetting, because as much as people focus on 331 00:13:57,100 --> 00:13:59,500 hurricanes -- and I come from a hurricane-prone state -- Chile 332 00:13:59,500 --> 00:14:01,430 and Haiti should have taught us something. 333 00:14:01,433 --> 00:14:03,463 We don't get to pick the next disaster. 334 00:14:03,467 --> 00:14:05,397 And an earthquake could strike at any time. 335 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,530 Any other event that could occur, 336 00:14:07,533 --> 00:14:08,703 we have to be ready all the time. 337 00:14:08,700 --> 00:14:10,600 So although hurricane season gives us a reminder to get 338 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:14,200 people ready for something, at FEMA we have to be ready 339 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:15,730 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 340 00:14:15,734 --> 00:14:18,334 I don't get the luxury of waiting for a forecast season; 341 00:14:18,333 --> 00:14:21,003 I have to be ready to go. So we keep adjusting. 342 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:23,630 Even with Tennessee and others, we have a lot of disasters 343 00:14:23,633 --> 00:14:26,733 going; we keep resetting our team and looking at where we're 344 00:14:26,734 --> 00:14:29,504 at and go, right now if something happens, 345 00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:33,230 what are we ready to do and what do we have to do to be prepared? 346 00:14:33,233 --> 00:14:35,833 The Press: The present situation right now, are you fearful that you might 347 00:14:35,834 --> 00:14:39,304 not be able to meet the need, as things arise with the financial 348 00:14:39,300 --> 00:14:41,000 problems that you're going through? 349 00:14:41,000 --> 00:14:44,070 Administrator Fugate: No. I mean, if I looked at it just as FEMA was the only game 350 00:14:44,066 --> 00:14:46,236 in town, I might be a little bit concerned. 351 00:14:46,233 --> 00:14:47,663 But we're not the only game in town. 352 00:14:47,667 --> 00:14:50,667 We work as a team on the federal side, again, 353 00:14:50,667 --> 00:14:53,897 with a relationship that we have in this administration 354 00:14:53,900 --> 00:14:55,600 across all our resources. 355 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,530 We're going to respond; we're going to take care of people. 356 00:14:57,533 --> 00:14:58,463 That's not the question. 357 00:14:58,467 --> 00:15:01,737 The question is really getting back to the permanent work and 358 00:15:01,734 --> 00:15:04,704 that right now we cannot move forward on without supplemental. 359 00:15:04,700 --> 00:15:13,970 Mr. Gibbs: Thank you, sir. Thanks, guys. 360 00:15:13,967 --> 00:15:15,397 It's like tag-team wrestling, isn't it? 361 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:23,870 (laughter) 362 00:15:23,867 --> 00:15:25,537 All right. 363 00:15:25,533 --> 00:15:26,403 The Press: Bill, your turn. 364 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:27,430 (laughter) 365 00:15:27,433 --> 00:15:28,603 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, I'm all for that. 366 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,200 I'm all for that. 367 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:38,970 Let me just give you guys a quick update on -- tomorrow 368 00:15:38,967 --> 00:15:41,797 Elena Kagan will make her way to Capitol Hill, 369 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:43,300 as I think some of you know. 370 00:15:43,300 --> 00:15:47,930 Let me give you the schedule of senators that she will see: 371 00:15:47,934 --> 00:15:52,964 Senator Reid at 10:00 a.m.; Senator McConnell at 11:00 a.m.; 372 00:15:52,967 --> 00:15:59,097 Senator Leahy at noon; Senator Sessions at 12:45 p.m.; and 373 00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:02,000 Senator Durbin at 2:30 p.m. 374 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:07,870 And as we get updates to that, we will provide them to you. 375 00:16:07,867 --> 00:16:08,967 Ms. Loven. 376 00:16:08,967 --> 00:16:11,637 The Press: I guess I'll resubmit my previous question. 377 00:16:11,633 --> 00:16:12,603 Mr. Gibbs: Oh, yes. 378 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,530 The Press: Your take on the Hill -- the BP hearings on the Hill and 379 00:16:15,533 --> 00:16:18,663 all these companies pointing fingers in opposite directions 380 00:16:18,667 --> 00:16:20,867 about the right way for them to go. 381 00:16:20,867 --> 00:16:27,397 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't want to get in the middle of their finger-pointing, 382 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:34,270 except to say that we obviously have an active investigation per 383 00:16:34,266 --> 00:16:38,496 what the President tasked the Interior Secretary to find out 384 00:16:38,500 --> 00:16:43,530 as to -- to identify the cause of what happened. 385 00:16:43,533 --> 00:16:45,933 The President -- I think you all got a readout from the 386 00:16:45,934 --> 00:16:48,704 President's meeting yesterday. 387 00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:54,270 And, look, I would -- watching him in that meeting, 388 00:16:54,266 --> 00:17:02,296 I would say the President is deeply frustrated that we have 389 00:17:02,300 --> 00:17:06,130 not plugged this leak. 390 00:17:06,133 --> 00:17:10,603 That's what the focus of -- I would say that's what a majority 391 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:15,200 of the meeting time was spent on. 392 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:20,570 Secretary Chu is heading to the area to work with the response 393 00:17:20,567 --> 00:17:24,397 team to make sure that we have some of the best and brightest 394 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:31,170 minds down there trying to think through next steps for doing so. 395 00:17:31,166 --> 00:17:34,566 But I think the President is deeply frustrated. 396 00:17:34,567 --> 00:17:37,867 The Press: Can I switch to the climate bill coming out tomorrow? 397 00:17:37,867 --> 00:17:40,997 Has the administration -- does the administration support or is 398 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,470 it pushing for a provision to let states have veto power 399 00:17:44,467 --> 00:17:47,897 over offshore drilling plans by other states? 400 00:17:47,900 --> 00:17:51,130 Mr. Gibbs: I will -- I don't know the answer to that inside 401 00:17:51,133 --> 00:17:56,403 the legislation, but I can have somebody check and see if that's 402 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,970 -- where that might lay. 403 00:17:59,967 --> 00:18:00,867 Yes, sir. 404 00:18:00,867 --> 00:18:03,967 The Press: Robert, one question on the European debt crisis, 405 00:18:03,967 --> 00:18:06,397 and then one follow-up on the oil spill. 406 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:07,570 First on Europe. 407 00:18:07,567 --> 00:18:11,867 How -- as the White House has monitored the European reaction 408 00:18:11,867 --> 00:18:17,037 to this, how big of a risk is what's going on there now to 409 00:18:17,033 --> 00:18:20,303 the U.S. economy and, in fact, indeed to the global 410 00:18:20,300 --> 00:18:21,630 economy as a whole? 411 00:18:21,633 --> 00:18:30,163 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I think anytime -- let me just say this. 412 00:18:30,166 --> 00:18:34,736 Obviously our economic team and the President have been engaged 413 00:18:34,734 --> 00:18:38,434 over the course of many weeks in monitoring the situation that 414 00:18:38,433 --> 00:18:42,603 was going on with many of these countries, 415 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:46,400 encouraging them to take the steps that are necessary to deal 416 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:58,770 with it, because of a fear that anything might stem the recovery 417 00:18:58,767 --> 00:19:01,867 that we believe is taking place, and not wanting to 418 00:19:01,867 --> 00:19:02,997 see any of that happen. 419 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:07,830 The President spoke this morning with Prime Minister Zapatero 420 00:19:07,834 --> 00:19:11,934 from Spain, who will seek reforms in his parliament, 421 00:19:11,934 --> 00:19:14,504 I believe, tomorrow. 422 00:19:14,500 --> 00:19:16,700 So it is something that the President and the team have been 423 00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:21,670 actively engaged on to ensure that it doesn't unnecessarily 424 00:19:21,667 --> 00:19:26,067 impact either our recovery or that of the global economic 425 00:19:26,066 --> 00:19:30,836 recovery -- which has obviously been the topic of virtually 426 00:19:30,834 --> 00:19:37,334 every multilateral meeting that the President has traveled to 427 00:19:37,333 --> 00:19:40,663 and including the events in Pittsburgh last fall. 428 00:19:40,667 --> 00:19:43,797 The Press: Spain is a country that many are concerned would be a much bigger 429 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:45,630 crisis if it were to default. 430 00:19:45,633 --> 00:19:48,633 Why did the President call Zapatero this morning and 431 00:19:48,633 --> 00:19:49,903 what did he say? 432 00:19:49,900 --> 00:19:53,230 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I'm not going to get into the personal aspects 433 00:19:53,233 --> 00:19:57,133 of the call except to say we continue to play a role in 434 00:19:57,133 --> 00:20:00,033 encouraging the Europeans, as I said a minute ago, 435 00:20:00,033 --> 00:20:04,563 to do what's necessary to ensure that this problem is dealt with 436 00:20:04,567 --> 00:20:05,537 and doesn't spread. 437 00:20:05,533 --> 00:20:06,703 The Press: So why Spain? 438 00:20:06,700 --> 00:20:09,530 Mr. Gibbs: Well, obviously they're one of the countries that, 439 00:20:09,533 --> 00:20:14,263 as I said, that are -- because of some of their 440 00:20:14,266 --> 00:20:17,396 problems, need to undertake reforms that the Prime Minister 441 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:18,930 is starting to work through. 442 00:20:18,934 --> 00:20:20,434 The Press: And then one question about the oil spill. 443 00:20:20,433 --> 00:20:23,803 The Interior Department announced today some reforms. 444 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:27,300 Will there be more regulatory reforms and proposals coming 445 00:20:27,300 --> 00:20:30,030 through in response to this oil spill similar to that? 446 00:20:30,033 --> 00:20:33,633 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, the President was very clear with the team again 447 00:20:33,633 --> 00:20:36,803 yesterday -- he wants everything to be looked at. 448 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:39,600 I do think it is tremendously important -- and the President 449 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:43,800 believes this as well -- the steps that Secretary Salazar is 450 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:46,900 beginning to undertake -- and understand that this is not 451 00:20:46,900 --> 00:20:51,430 going to require legislation, the Secretary can do this 452 00:20:51,433 --> 00:20:58,233 administratively -- to split off MMS into one that is concerned 453 00:20:58,233 --> 00:21:02,563 with leases and royalties and one that is concerned with 454 00:21:02,567 --> 00:21:08,497 management and safety, and to ensure that an agency with a 455 00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:14,100 purview like that never gets its two tasks mixed up. 456 00:21:14,100 --> 00:21:15,470 I think that's important going forward. 457 00:21:15,467 --> 00:21:18,637 But as I've said before and as the President has said, 458 00:21:18,633 --> 00:21:24,903 we will look at everything -- every bit of this process, 459 00:21:24,900 --> 00:21:27,030 to ensure what can be strengthened, 460 00:21:27,033 --> 00:21:30,833 what needs to be changed, what might have been the cause and 461 00:21:30,834 --> 00:21:32,564 how we can rectify that. 462 00:21:32,567 --> 00:21:37,537 The President is very serious about ensuring that the notion 463 00:21:37,533 --> 00:21:40,503 of failsafe means that. 464 00:21:40,500 --> 00:21:44,830 That has to mean something to him, given what's gone on. 465 00:21:44,834 --> 00:21:45,864 Yes, sir. 466 00:21:45,867 --> 00:21:48,497 The Press: Robert, just to follow on the EU rescue plan, 467 00:21:48,500 --> 00:21:52,270 has the President in his conversations with these 468 00:21:52,266 --> 00:21:55,536 European leaders gotten a sense of confidence that 469 00:21:55,533 --> 00:22:00,133 this rescue plan is enough to stabilize the situation? 470 00:22:00,133 --> 00:22:04,003 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I don't want to get too deeply into their personal 471 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,570 conversations except to say I think the President and the 472 00:22:07,567 --> 00:22:10,567 team have believed, as I think many in Europe have, 473 00:22:10,567 --> 00:22:12,297 that steps needed to be taken. 474 00:22:12,300 --> 00:22:17,030 And these are important steps in ensuring that 475 00:22:17,033 --> 00:22:18,163 this doesn't spread. 476 00:22:18,166 --> 00:22:19,936 The Press: So what's the level of confidence that this -- 477 00:22:19,934 --> 00:22:22,734 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, we think the actions that were taken were 478 00:22:22,734 --> 00:22:25,634 necessary, needed, and we're glad they happened. 479 00:22:25,633 --> 00:22:28,403 The Press: On Karzai meeting with the President, 480 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,000 you and other administration officials have talked about 481 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:35,830 how he's the elected leader of Afghanistan. 482 00:22:35,834 --> 00:22:40,004 Beyond that, very little is said about whether or not there's 483 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:41,570 real confidence in him. 484 00:22:41,567 --> 00:22:44,367 I'm wondering if this will -- if there will be strong 485 00:22:44,367 --> 00:22:47,037 language from the President tomorrow in saying, listen, 486 00:22:47,033 --> 00:22:49,203 I need you to do this, I need you to do more 487 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:50,630 in order to build confidence? 488 00:22:50,633 --> 00:22:54,133 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, let me -- I'm going to take this a couple 489 00:22:54,133 --> 00:22:57,333 different ways, first a little bit more broadly. 490 00:22:57,333 --> 00:22:59,833 The President is focused and always has been 491 00:22:59,834 --> 00:23:02,564 focused on substance. 492 00:23:02,567 --> 00:23:06,937 We have a job to do with a partner in the government and 493 00:23:06,934 --> 00:23:09,104 the country of Afghanistan. 494 00:23:09,100 --> 00:23:10,470 That's what the President's focus is; 495 00:23:10,467 --> 00:23:12,197 that's what our team's focus is. 496 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,300 We're not going to get bogged down in 497 00:23:15,300 --> 00:23:17,770 atmospherics or personalities. 498 00:23:17,767 --> 00:23:20,837 The Press: We already have. 499 00:23:20,834 --> 00:23:26,164 Mr. Gibbs: That's not what we're here to do. 500 00:23:26,166 --> 00:23:33,266 Our focus will be on evaluating the progress that's been made 501 00:23:33,266 --> 00:23:39,596 since -- security-wise, since the President increased our 502 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:45,600 forces there, and to go through what progress has been made on 503 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:48,700 a governance side. 504 00:23:48,700 --> 00:23:51,730 We understand, and I think the government of Afghanistan 505 00:23:51,734 --> 00:23:57,864 understands the importance of the steps that it has to take 506 00:23:57,867 --> 00:24:03,067 both, again, on the security side in training a force -- a 507 00:24:03,066 --> 00:24:08,066 security force and a police and army -- as well as what it takes 508 00:24:08,066 --> 00:24:13,336 to hold an area and ultimately have that area transferred to 509 00:24:13,333 --> 00:24:14,833 the control of the Afghans. 510 00:24:14,834 --> 00:24:17,534 That's the process, right? 511 00:24:17,533 --> 00:24:24,633 Clear and hold in conjunction with ISAF and Afghan forces; 512 00:24:24,633 --> 00:24:29,903 building and transferring that to the control of the Afghans. 513 00:24:29,900 --> 00:24:35,370 That's the process that they'll talk through tomorrow. 514 00:24:35,367 --> 00:24:38,037 The Press: I'm not sure that totally answers the question, though. 515 00:24:38,033 --> 00:24:40,663 I mean, I guess I'm trying to get a sense of the President, 516 00:24:40,667 --> 00:24:43,337 when he sits down with him, yes, he'll talk about all the 517 00:24:43,333 --> 00:24:45,463 progress that has been made, but is he going to hold his 518 00:24:45,467 --> 00:24:47,637 feet to the fire? 519 00:24:47,633 --> 00:24:50,503 Mr. Gibbs: Dan, I don't know if you saw or read yesterday's briefing; 520 00:24:50,500 --> 00:24:54,500 we went through a lot of this. 521 00:24:54,500 --> 00:24:56,400 We have a relationship with the people and the 522 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:59,470 country of Afghanistan where we're going to have 523 00:24:59,467 --> 00:25:02,537 agreements and disagreements. 524 00:25:02,533 --> 00:25:05,963 We're going to laud them for the steps that they take, 525 00:25:05,967 --> 00:25:09,237 and we're going to work with them to do what is necessary 526 00:25:09,233 --> 00:25:12,433 to deal with the problems of governance, 527 00:25:12,433 --> 00:25:15,433 accountability, and corruption. 528 00:25:15,433 --> 00:25:21,063 Look, I think it's been -- the reason I started with the 529 00:25:21,066 --> 00:25:24,136 atmospherics and personalities is because I think people get 530 00:25:24,133 --> 00:25:27,233 focused on that and they don't see some of the progress that 531 00:25:27,233 --> 00:25:30,303 has been made, right? 532 00:25:30,300 --> 00:25:32,800 You heard Ambassador Eikenberry talk about this yesterday. 533 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:34,570 There are high-level corruption trials that 534 00:25:34,567 --> 00:25:37,767 are going on right now. 535 00:25:37,767 --> 00:25:45,567 The High Office of Oversight now operates with a mission 536 00:25:45,567 --> 00:25:47,267 to increase its accountability. 537 00:25:47,266 --> 00:25:49,736 And we are watching, as we will always, 538 00:25:49,734 --> 00:25:52,104 the implementation of that. 539 00:25:52,100 --> 00:25:54,130 We've asked for, and Karzai has signed, 540 00:25:54,133 --> 00:25:57,063 a law to improve sub-national governance. 541 00:25:57,066 --> 00:25:59,396 Again, we will watch the implementation of that because, 542 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:04,600 again, all of this is necessary as we undertake the security and 543 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:06,630 the governance side of this. 544 00:26:06,633 --> 00:26:10,863 And we've asked for, and President Karzai understands 545 00:26:10,867 --> 00:26:14,767 the need for, fair and transparent parliamentary 546 00:26:14,767 --> 00:26:16,337 elections that are upcoming. 547 00:26:16,333 --> 00:26:22,263 And not long after the President visited with President Karzai in 548 00:26:22,266 --> 00:26:26,766 Kabul, there were some important appointments to the electoral 549 00:26:26,767 --> 00:26:29,837 complaints commission, which we think is an important step 550 00:26:29,834 --> 00:26:33,604 forward in dealing with a fair and transparent parliamentary 551 00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:37,430 election that's in the interest of the people of Afghanistan as 552 00:26:37,433 --> 00:26:39,933 well as in our interest. 553 00:26:39,934 --> 00:26:41,764 The Press: Robert, can I follow on that? 554 00:26:41,767 --> 00:26:42,537 Mr. Gibbs: Sure. 555 00:26:42,533 --> 00:26:45,233 The Press: I get the White House is encouraged by some of the 556 00:26:45,233 --> 00:26:47,263 steps that President Karzai has taken, 557 00:26:47,266 --> 00:26:49,266 but on the Hill there seems to be still a 558 00:26:49,266 --> 00:26:50,236 great deal of skepticism. 559 00:26:50,233 --> 00:26:52,863 Majority Leader Hoyer said this morning that he doesn't think 560 00:26:52,867 --> 00:26:55,237 that President Karzai is up to the task of 561 00:26:55,233 --> 00:26:56,063 confronting corruption. 562 00:26:56,066 --> 00:26:57,096 I'm just wondering, does the White House 563 00:26:57,100 --> 00:26:58,070 share that skepticism? 564 00:26:58,066 --> 00:27:01,636 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, I'd refer you to the answer that I gave, 565 00:27:01,633 --> 00:27:04,763 which is we believe there are steps that they've taken 566 00:27:04,767 --> 00:27:09,197 and we believe there are more steps that they have to take. 567 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:12,970 He's the President of Afghanistan. 568 00:27:12,967 --> 00:27:15,997 We'll have -- 569 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:17,400 The Press: -- for Osama bin Laden? 570 00:27:17,400 --> 00:27:21,500 Mr. Gibbs: I think there's a lot of people that are working on that. 571 00:27:21,500 --> 00:27:27,130 We're focused on, again -- we're focused on the security 572 00:27:27,133 --> 00:27:30,903 and the governance with our partner in Afghanistan. 573 00:27:30,900 --> 00:27:31,630 Yes, ma'am. 574 00:27:31,633 --> 00:27:35,163 The Press: Robert, there's underwater video of the leak in progress that BP 575 00:27:35,166 --> 00:27:38,866 has that they have said that they would release to the press 576 00:27:38,867 --> 00:27:39,597 at some point. 577 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:40,900 So far they have not. 578 00:27:40,900 --> 00:27:43,000 Has the President, and who in the administration has 579 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,400 seen this video feed? 580 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:46,100 And does the White House think that the public 581 00:27:46,100 --> 00:27:47,530 should have access to this? 582 00:27:47,533 --> 00:27:49,733 Mr. Gibbs: I believe the Coast Guard has asked for BP to make 583 00:27:49,734 --> 00:27:52,504 that available to the press, so the answer to your second 584 00:27:52,500 --> 00:27:53,630 question is, yes. 585 00:27:53,633 --> 00:27:56,363 I don't know the degree which -- who in the administration 586 00:27:56,367 --> 00:27:57,597 has seen it. 587 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:01,700 I believe that it is -- I believe that they have 588 00:28:01,700 --> 00:28:07,900 seen it at the Unified Command Centers in the area. 589 00:28:07,900 --> 00:28:09,630 I don't know who in the administration has seen it. 590 00:28:09,633 --> 00:28:10,963 The Press: But if the White House is in charge, 591 00:28:10,967 --> 00:28:13,037 if the federal government is in charge of all of this, 592 00:28:13,033 --> 00:28:16,363 couldn't they force BP's hand to make that video available? 593 00:28:16,367 --> 00:28:18,167 Mr. Gibbs: Well, we've asked that to happen. 594 00:28:18,166 --> 00:28:19,196 The Press: Well, why hasn't it happened? 595 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,430 Mr. Gibbs: You'd have to ask that of BP. 596 00:28:21,433 --> 00:28:23,303 The Press: Second question: Can you elaborate a little bit 597 00:28:23,300 --> 00:28:24,730 more on Beau Biden? 598 00:28:24,734 --> 00:28:26,304 We got this sort of cryptic email from the 599 00:28:26,300 --> 00:28:27,430 Vice President's office today. 600 00:28:27,433 --> 00:28:28,663 Can you tell us anything more? 601 00:28:28,667 --> 00:28:30,837 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have anything more than what you've been told 602 00:28:30,834 --> 00:28:32,004 by the Vice President's office. 603 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:35,900 And updates on that will come from them. 604 00:28:35,900 --> 00:28:36,930 Yes, ma'am. 605 00:28:36,934 --> 00:28:39,634 The Press: Whose war is this in Afghanistan? 606 00:28:39,633 --> 00:28:42,703 We keep running them and telling them what to do, 607 00:28:42,700 --> 00:28:45,400 so is it our war or is it their war? 608 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,630 Or is it a civil war? 609 00:28:47,633 --> 00:28:50,933 Mr. Gibbs: There's an international component to this, Helen, 610 00:28:50,934 --> 00:29:00,434 because the attacks that were planned when the Taliban had 611 00:29:00,433 --> 00:29:05,503 an area that allowed al Qaeda to plan what happened on 612 00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:07,470 September 11th -- obviously that occurred in the United States. 613 00:29:07,467 --> 00:29:09,097 The Press: By why don't you ever want to know what happened and 614 00:29:09,100 --> 00:29:10,730 why it happened? 615 00:29:10,734 --> 00:29:12,204 Mr. Gibbs: I don't know what you're talking about. 616 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:16,230 The Press: We have never had an explanation of why they want to attack us. 617 00:29:16,233 --> 00:29:21,663 Don't you think it's because we're there attacking there? 618 00:29:21,667 --> 00:29:23,997 Mr. Gibbs: We're there to ensure the safety and security of our 619 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:26,930 people after the safety and security of our people were 620 00:29:26,934 --> 00:29:29,304 threatened by what happened on 9/11. 621 00:29:29,300 --> 00:29:31,270 That's why we're there, Helen. 622 00:29:31,266 --> 00:29:35,966 And the international community is there because there have been 623 00:29:35,967 --> 00:29:39,567 attacks all over the world as -- 624 00:29:39,567 --> 00:29:41,597 The Press: We never try to find out why. 625 00:29:41,600 --> 00:29:44,770 Mr. Gibbs: No, I think we have -- I think we have seen and 626 00:29:44,767 --> 00:29:49,367 you've heard the President talk about people have distorted one 627 00:29:49,367 --> 00:29:55,767 of the world's great religions into believing that terrorism 628 00:29:55,767 --> 00:29:58,137 and violence is the answer. 629 00:29:58,133 --> 00:29:59,833 The Press: You're talking about the Muslims? 630 00:29:59,834 --> 00:30:02,464 Mr. Gibbs: I'm talking about some who have corrupted that great religion, 631 00:30:02,467 --> 00:30:06,297 yes -- certainly not everybody and not everybody by a long shot. 632 00:30:06,300 --> 00:30:10,800 The Press: And we go in to kill and maim and send drones. 633 00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:14,630 Is that Christianity? 634 00:30:14,633 --> 00:30:16,663 Mr. Gibbs: There are things that have to be done -- I'm not going 635 00:30:16,667 --> 00:30:18,367 to comment on specific tactics. 636 00:30:18,367 --> 00:30:23,597 There are things that we're doing in Afghanistan through, 637 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:26,970 again, an international security force, 638 00:30:26,967 --> 00:30:33,497 to ensure that al Qaeda does not have a safe haven with which to 639 00:30:33,500 --> 00:30:40,030 plan attacks on our country, or countries around the world. 640 00:30:40,033 --> 00:30:41,003 Chuck. 641 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:41,730 The Press: A few things. 642 00:30:41,734 --> 00:30:43,664 Has the President talked to Prime Minister Brown 643 00:30:43,667 --> 00:30:47,237 today or yesterday? 644 00:30:47,233 --> 00:30:49,663 Mr. Gibbs: Did not yesterday. 645 00:30:49,667 --> 00:30:52,197 Obviously -- just as I was coming out, 646 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:59,900 he made a statement -- as there are developments of 647 00:30:59,900 --> 00:31:04,630 Britain forming a new government, we will reach out to -- if that's 648 00:31:04,633 --> 00:31:07,833 David Cameron, I'm sure the President will have 649 00:31:07,834 --> 00:31:09,464 an opportunity soon to speak with him. 650 00:31:09,467 --> 00:31:10,837 The Press: You have not heard from anybody in the last 24 hours? 651 00:31:10,834 --> 00:31:12,164 Mr. Gibbs: Not that I'm aware of, no. 652 00:31:12,166 --> 00:31:14,836 The Press: The decision -- you said the President has asked 653 00:31:14,834 --> 00:31:18,004 Energy Secretary Chu to go down there, 654 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:21,430 I guess -- is he leading a task force to try to come up with new 655 00:31:21,433 --> 00:31:22,563 ways to plug the hole? 656 00:31:22,567 --> 00:31:26,837 Mr. Gibbs: No, Secretary Chu is down there based on some improvements that 657 00:31:26,834 --> 00:31:32,104 he suggested on ways to look at what's going on in the leak. 658 00:31:32,100 --> 00:31:36,530 The Press: Is there -- I mean, was there any orders before yesterday to, 659 00:31:36,533 --> 00:31:40,403 hey, can we work on -- can we have X agency working on 660 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:42,600 figuring out alternative plans to plug the hole? 661 00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:44,370 Or was it all relied on BP? 662 00:31:44,367 --> 00:31:45,197 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no. 663 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:49,300 Chuck, we've been doing everything that we can. 664 00:31:49,300 --> 00:31:51,700 Some people have criticized, well, 665 00:31:51,700 --> 00:31:56,300 the military didn't send a C-130 down until -- I said this, 666 00:31:56,300 --> 00:31:58,330 I think at one point on the back of the plane, 667 00:31:58,333 --> 00:32:03,263 there's not somewhere on a dock in Annapolis a secret submarine 668 00:32:03,266 --> 00:32:04,836 that will fix this leak. 669 00:32:04,834 --> 00:32:06,134 I don't mean that to be funny. 670 00:32:06,133 --> 00:32:08,703 I mean that it is -- the President has asked that 671 00:32:08,700 --> 00:32:13,230 everything in our power be done. 672 00:32:13,233 --> 00:32:15,633 Everything in our power is being done. 673 00:32:15,633 --> 00:32:18,763 The frustration that the President has is that, 674 00:32:18,767 --> 00:32:22,767 despite all of that, and despite the efforts of others, 675 00:32:22,767 --> 00:32:26,567 there still continues to be a very large oil leak. 676 00:32:26,567 --> 00:32:29,097 The Press: I mean do you feel like at this point BP is as 677 00:32:29,100 --> 00:32:31,500 forthcoming as they can be and doing everything that they can 678 00:32:31,500 --> 00:32:33,730 do at this point? 679 00:32:33,734 --> 00:32:36,864 Mr. Gibbs: If we have problems with what they're doing, 680 00:32:36,867 --> 00:32:40,237 we have communicated and will continue to communicate to them 681 00:32:40,233 --> 00:32:41,603 things that have to be done. 682 00:32:41,600 --> 00:32:44,070 That's why Secretary Salazar has been there -- been down there so 683 00:32:44,066 --> 00:32:49,036 often to ensure that everything that can be done is being done. 684 00:32:49,033 --> 00:32:51,103 The Press: Any additions to the schedule before next 685 00:32:51,100 --> 00:32:53,070 Tuesday for Senator Specter? 686 00:32:53,066 --> 00:32:56,696 Mr. Gibbs: No. Yes, ma'am. 687 00:32:56,700 --> 00:33:00,300 The Press: It appears that Solicitor General Kagan did an interview 688 00:33:00,300 --> 00:33:02,370 yesterday right after the President's announcement. 689 00:33:02,367 --> 00:33:05,967 You've now posted that on the White House website. 690 00:33:05,967 --> 00:33:07,037 Who did the interview? 691 00:33:07,033 --> 00:33:08,363 And can I have one? 692 00:33:08,367 --> 00:33:10,437 Mr. Gibbs: I think it's -- I think it's on the website, 693 00:33:10,433 --> 00:33:11,633 if you want to see it. 694 00:33:11,633 --> 00:33:12,763 The Press: Do you know who did the interview? 695 00:33:12,767 --> 00:33:15,767 Mr. Gibbs: Yes, I think it was Arun who does the video stuff, 696 00:33:15,767 --> 00:33:19,567 similar to what we did with Judge Sotomayor 697 00:33:19,567 --> 00:33:21,397 during the last one. 698 00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:23,800 The Press: So a White House staffer interviewing her? 699 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:24,600 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 700 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:27,100 The Press: Would she like to do another one with a journalists? 701 00:33:27,100 --> 00:33:30,470 Mr. Gibbs: She has -- she's not told me that, no. 702 00:33:30,467 --> 00:33:32,767 (laughter) 703 00:33:32,767 --> 00:33:34,167 The Press: Tell her we're deeply frustrated. 704 00:33:34,166 --> 00:33:38,866 Mr. Gibbs: I will. I will. Yes, Major. 705 00:33:38,867 --> 00:33:40,667 The Press: Who is the President frustrated with? 706 00:33:40,667 --> 00:33:44,337 Is he frustrated with BP in this oil situation? 707 00:33:44,333 --> 00:33:45,133 Is it -- 708 00:33:45,133 --> 00:33:46,503 Mr. Gibbs: I think he's frustrated with the fact that there's 709 00:33:46,500 --> 00:33:47,500 still a leak. 710 00:33:47,500 --> 00:33:48,500 The Press: That's it? There's no -- 711 00:33:48,500 --> 00:33:49,170 Mr. Gibbs: Well -- 712 00:33:49,166 --> 00:33:49,636 The Press: No, I -- 713 00:33:49,633 --> 00:33:54,003 Mr. Gibbs: Let's -- that's it. Let's not minimize. That's it. 714 00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,930 Yes, he's frustrated with the fact that we're still 715 00:33:56,934 --> 00:33:57,504 sitting in a place -- 716 00:33:57,500 --> 00:33:59,770 The Press: He's not frustrated with BP's efforts so far -- 717 00:33:59,767 --> 00:34:01,367 Mr. Gibbs: Major -- 718 00:34:01,367 --> 00:34:02,667 The Press: -- or its ability to -- 719 00:34:02,667 --> 00:34:04,967 Mr. Gibbs: Major, let me be clear -- because I don't want you 720 00:34:04,967 --> 00:34:05,667 to put words in my mouth. 721 00:34:05,667 --> 00:34:06,937 The Press: I'm just asking -- 722 00:34:06,934 --> 00:34:09,264 Mr. Gibbs: That's why I'm answering. 723 00:34:09,266 --> 00:34:11,536 The President is frustrated with everything, 724 00:34:11,533 --> 00:34:13,403 the President is frustrated with everybody, 725 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:15,900 in the sense that we still have an oil leak. 726 00:34:15,900 --> 00:34:18,330 That includes us. 727 00:34:18,333 --> 00:34:21,533 That includes anybody that's involved in this. 728 00:34:21,533 --> 00:34:24,733 The President wants to see this leak plugged. 729 00:34:24,734 --> 00:34:26,134 Mark. 730 00:34:26,133 --> 00:34:29,603 The Press: In that meeting yesterday was the President told that, 731 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:31,670 yes, sir, there is a way to plug it? 732 00:34:31,667 --> 00:34:33,967 Or is that still a possibility, it might 733 00:34:33,967 --> 00:34:35,697 not be able to be plugged? 734 00:34:35,700 --> 00:34:39,630 Mr. Gibbs: Well, there were a series of things that I think BP has 735 00:34:39,633 --> 00:34:48,133 talked about that members of the group went through: a small 736 00:34:48,133 --> 00:34:52,203 containment dome to take into account the hydrates 737 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:55,700 that had formed 5,000 feet under the ocean 738 00:34:55,700 --> 00:34:58,170 with the larger containment dome. 739 00:34:58,166 --> 00:35:02,236 The President was briefed on progress that is being made in 740 00:35:02,233 --> 00:35:06,463 terms of drilling a relief well which, candidly, 741 00:35:06,467 --> 00:35:12,597 will take quite some time, and -- as well as getting updates on 742 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:17,970 our progress on dealing with, again, the oil that has come up, 743 00:35:17,967 --> 00:35:21,397 how it's being dealt with both at a subsea and at a surface 744 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:25,830 level, and the impact both environmentally and 745 00:35:25,834 --> 00:35:29,804 economically, largely what the President has been focused on 746 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:30,770 the whole time. 747 00:35:30,767 --> 00:35:33,597 The Press: But the readout you put out yesterday, 748 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:38,230 you said the President called for independent experts to be 749 00:35:38,233 --> 00:35:39,733 brought in and help -- 750 00:35:39,734 --> 00:35:41,334 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 751 00:35:41,333 --> 00:35:43,333 The Press: Today is the 15th day of this. 752 00:35:43,333 --> 00:35:48,133 Mr. Gibbs: Again, they're -- BP I know has consulted with -- I was 753 00:35:48,133 --> 00:35:53,233 in a meeting the first week of this where John Holdren, 754 00:35:53,233 --> 00:35:56,403 in our Office of Science and Technology, 755 00:35:56,400 --> 00:36:00,400 has consulted with people in and out of government, 756 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:03,230 as has Secretary Chu and others. 757 00:36:03,233 --> 00:36:08,003 The Press: So the President still believes it can be plugged? 758 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:09,630 Mr. Gibbs: Believes that, and the President wants us to do 759 00:36:09,633 --> 00:36:12,033 everything in our power to ensure that that happens. 760 00:36:12,033 --> 00:36:13,403 The Press: Robert, to follow on that? 761 00:36:13,400 --> 00:36:17,000 The Press: Robert, the Senate has approved an audit of the 762 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:21,700 Fed's emergency lending that it exercised. 763 00:36:21,700 --> 00:36:23,500 The President will be supporting -- or signing 764 00:36:23,500 --> 00:36:24,830 that bill I assume. 765 00:36:24,834 --> 00:36:28,864 Mr. Gibbs: Well, I don't want to fast forward the Senate's process. 766 00:36:28,867 --> 00:36:33,667 That's part of financial reform that you heard Deputy Secretary 767 00:36:33,667 --> 00:36:36,297 Wolin say that the administration 768 00:36:36,300 --> 00:36:37,630 supported last week. 769 00:36:37,633 --> 00:36:40,533 The Press: And is there any concern at the White House here 770 00:36:40,533 --> 00:36:45,863 that back provision would alter the traditional independence of 771 00:36:45,867 --> 00:36:47,737 the Fed at some point? 772 00:36:47,734 --> 00:36:53,234 Mr. Gibbs: No, because again, this was -- our original concern was that 773 00:36:53,233 --> 00:36:56,733 the broader amendment as written by Senator Sanders 774 00:36:56,734 --> 00:37:02,164 would unnecessarily politicize monetary policy. 775 00:37:02,166 --> 00:37:03,336 That was our concern with it. 776 00:37:03,333 --> 00:37:07,033 He rewrote that amendment to ensure that it was directed at 777 00:37:07,033 --> 00:37:11,933 the transparency as to what had happened as a result of the 778 00:37:11,934 --> 00:37:15,934 financial collapse and the money that had to be spent. 779 00:37:15,934 --> 00:37:17,964 And we were supportive of that transparency. 780 00:37:17,967 --> 00:37:19,697 The Press: Sort of narrowing the language then -- 781 00:37:19,700 --> 00:37:22,830 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, we supported the amendment that passed, 782 00:37:22,834 --> 00:37:25,534 the Sanders Amendment that was re-written. 783 00:37:25,533 --> 00:37:26,603 Yes, sir. 784 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:29,970 The Press: Does the President's interest in revising Miranda come from 785 00:37:29,967 --> 00:37:32,397 a specific case that he feels did not go as well 786 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:33,430 as he might have liked? 787 00:37:33,433 --> 00:37:36,003 And if not, why does he feel the current system is not as 788 00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:37,330 good as it could be? 789 00:37:37,333 --> 00:37:47,733 Mr. Gibbs: Well, let me share that -- look, I think that what has happened 790 00:37:47,734 --> 00:37:53,964 in this case, I think you've heard officials discuss that 791 00:37:53,967 --> 00:38:02,937 the public safety exception was used to originally question Shahzad. 792 00:38:02,934 --> 00:38:06,264 There was -- intelligence officials the Attorney General 793 00:38:06,266 --> 00:38:10,536 consulted, the power was given to those in the room, 794 00:38:10,533 --> 00:38:14,303 experienced interrogators, to decide when the best time would 795 00:38:14,300 --> 00:38:16,570 be to do that. 796 00:38:16,567 --> 00:38:21,197 They did that. 797 00:38:21,200 --> 00:38:26,770 Mr. Shahzad continues to speak with those that are questioning 798 00:38:26,767 --> 00:38:29,337 him about those events. 799 00:38:29,333 --> 00:38:34,033 Our only thing is to look at, as we have in each and every case, 800 00:38:34,033 --> 00:38:41,063 any ability to provide necessary flexibility 801 00:38:41,066 --> 00:38:44,696 for those in law enforcement to ensure that they're able 802 00:38:44,700 --> 00:38:47,870 to get what is needed. 803 00:38:47,867 --> 00:38:48,567 But I think that -- 804 00:38:48,567 --> 00:38:49,867 The Press: -- what the law says. 805 00:38:49,867 --> 00:38:53,837 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, this would be -- Helen, 806 00:38:53,834 --> 00:38:55,204 I think we discussed this yesterday. 807 00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:56,830 The President is a believer in this law, 808 00:38:56,834 --> 00:39:02,464 and that's why -- despite a lot of armchair quarterbacking from 809 00:39:02,467 --> 00:39:06,037 people with not a lot of experience in interrogation 810 00:39:06,033 --> 00:39:10,163 have brought this up. 811 00:39:10,166 --> 00:39:15,166 But the President is committed to it and ensuring that we have 812 00:39:15,166 --> 00:39:19,336 protections, as well as flexibility. 813 00:39:19,333 --> 00:39:22,463 The Press: Robert, I noticed the Daily Caller today reported that 814 00:39:22,467 --> 00:39:26,037 Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod have drivers -- 815 00:39:26,033 --> 00:39:30,163 government drivers to and from work and been accorded Secret 816 00:39:30,166 --> 00:39:31,836 Service protection. 817 00:39:31,834 --> 00:39:33,764 And I wondered if that is correct. 818 00:39:33,767 --> 00:39:38,237 And also are any other top aides to the President -- Rahm or 819 00:39:38,233 --> 00:39:41,633 yourself or others -- afforded that status? 820 00:39:41,633 --> 00:39:43,163 Mr. Gibbs: Afforded what status? 821 00:39:43,166 --> 00:39:48,166 The Press: The Secret Service protection and also the driver. 822 00:39:48,166 --> 00:39:51,066 Mr. Gibbs: Well, each President is afforded six opportunities 823 00:39:51,066 --> 00:39:56,696 to provide transportation. 824 00:39:56,700 --> 00:39:58,770 The President does that. 825 00:39:58,767 --> 00:40:02,667 The Press: Six for the -- 826 00:40:02,667 --> 00:40:08,697 Mr. Gibbs: I'm not going to get into who has protection and who doesn't. 827 00:40:08,700 --> 00:40:13,570 That is a decision that is made by the Secret Service. 828 00:40:13,567 --> 00:40:22,197 I will mention that the number of non-statutory protectees -- 829 00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:24,470 obviously there are people that have protection based 830 00:40:24,467 --> 00:40:27,767 on the law. 831 00:40:27,767 --> 00:40:32,697 The Secret Service makes evaluations as to those 832 00:40:32,700 --> 00:40:37,170 who might need it. 833 00:40:37,166 --> 00:40:40,936 Again, I'm not going to get into who, where, and why. 834 00:40:40,934 --> 00:40:46,164 But those currently -- currently in our administration there are 835 00:40:46,166 --> 00:40:51,236 33 percent fewer non-statutory protectees than at the end of 836 00:40:51,233 --> 00:40:52,803 the previous administration. 837 00:40:52,800 --> 00:40:55,970 The Press: And can you just explain, does the protectee status 838 00:40:55,967 --> 00:40:57,467 come with a car -- 839 00:40:57,467 --> 00:40:58,167 Mr. Gibbs: No. 840 00:40:58,166 --> 00:41:00,496 The Press: -- or is that a separate decision that the President 841 00:41:00,500 --> 00:41:01,900 makes to provide transportation? 842 00:41:01,900 --> 00:41:04,600 Mr. Gibbs: No, no. The President doesn't make protectee decisions. 843 00:41:04,600 --> 00:41:08,000 Protectee decisions are made at -- by the Secret Service. 844 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:10,530 If you have questions about that, 845 00:41:10,533 --> 00:41:13,463 I would speak with the Secret Service. 846 00:41:13,467 --> 00:41:16,067 The Press: Okay, but he makes the decisions about the transport? 847 00:41:16,066 --> 00:41:17,796 Mr. Gibbs: It is up to six that can do that, yes. 848 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:19,000 The Press: -- and has up to six that he can do that. 849 00:41:19,000 --> 00:41:19,930 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 850 00:41:19,934 --> 00:41:23,504 The Press: Can you say why he chose Valerie and David as two of the six? 851 00:41:23,500 --> 00:41:24,830 Mr. Gibbs: Based on their jobs. 852 00:41:24,834 --> 00:41:26,504 The Press: You get one? 853 00:41:26,500 --> 00:41:27,370 Mr. Gibbs: No. 854 00:41:27,367 --> 00:41:29,797 The Press: This is on the documents from General Kagan's White 855 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:31,630 House service -- I'm just following up on what you 856 00:41:31,633 --> 00:41:33,103 guys were saying about this yesterday. 857 00:41:33,100 --> 00:41:35,300 Is it your anticipation that all of those documents will 858 00:41:35,300 --> 00:41:36,700 be made available? 859 00:41:36,700 --> 00:41:39,370 Mr. Gibbs: Well, it's my anticipation that the committee and individual 860 00:41:39,367 --> 00:41:44,437 senators will seek documents from her work via the Clinton 861 00:41:44,433 --> 00:41:49,263 Library, and we look forward to working with them to fulfill 862 00:41:49,266 --> 00:41:50,736 reasonable requests. 863 00:41:50,734 --> 00:41:53,934 The Press: Is it your belief that the executive privilege 864 00:41:53,934 --> 00:41:56,234 will cover any of those documents? 865 00:41:56,233 --> 00:42:00,163 Mr. Gibbs: I'd have to check more deeply with counsel on that. Mark. 866 00:42:00,166 --> 00:42:02,866 The Press: Just briefly on what Secretary Chu is being asked to do. 867 00:42:02,867 --> 00:42:06,067 Is he going down there to propose additional steps, 868 00:42:06,066 --> 00:42:09,096 or to try and get BP to take steps that they haven't? 869 00:42:09,100 --> 00:42:17,100 Mr. Gibbs: Well, Secretary Salazar has been down there to ensure that we're 870 00:42:17,100 --> 00:42:21,270 comfortable with the pacing of their response. 871 00:42:21,266 --> 00:42:24,066 He's been down there I think a number of times. 872 00:42:24,066 --> 00:42:30,636 He's traveling back down there with Secretary Chu in order to 873 00:42:30,633 --> 00:42:34,133 -- they've got various different response teams that Secretary 874 00:42:34,133 --> 00:42:36,063 Salazar thought he might be helpful with. 875 00:42:36,066 --> 00:42:38,736 The Press: Robert, can you just -- just add one thing to that. 876 00:42:38,734 --> 00:42:41,104 Will the White House get involved in the decision about 877 00:42:41,100 --> 00:42:43,370 which documents would be made available by the Clinton 878 00:42:43,367 --> 00:42:44,597 Library, or do you think -- 879 00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:47,170 Mr. Gibbs: I will check with counsel on that. 880 00:42:47,166 --> 00:42:52,936 The Press: Robert, it's May 11th, and it's 20 days away before the Black 881 00:42:52,934 --> 00:42:58,704 Farmers deadline comes up May 31st -- $1.25 billion, and you 882 00:42:58,700 --> 00:43:02,600 have Cobell, $1.4 billion; and then you have FEMA for 883 00:43:02,600 --> 00:43:06,600 what FEMA had just said, $5.1 billion. 884 00:43:06,600 --> 00:43:08,230 That's a lot of money. 885 00:43:08,233 --> 00:43:10,363 Realistically, what do you think is going to happen? 886 00:43:10,367 --> 00:43:15,897 Mr. Gibbs: Oh, I'm not going to get into prognosticating except 887 00:43:15,900 --> 00:43:20,630 to say you know those are priorities of the President. 888 00:43:20,633 --> 00:43:27,163 I think -- if I'm not mistaken, as Administrator Fugate said, 889 00:43:27,166 --> 00:43:30,396 on the disaster relief fund, that supplemental 890 00:43:30,400 --> 00:43:33,730 appropriation has passed. 891 00:43:33,734 --> 00:43:36,304 The House of Representatives -- I think they tried to get 892 00:43:36,300 --> 00:43:40,570 unanimous consent today in the Senate and that was objected to. 893 00:43:40,567 --> 00:43:41,837 The Press: So what about the Black Farmers? 894 00:43:41,834 --> 00:43:44,834 They are pushing for this money -- it's 15 years. 895 00:43:44,834 --> 00:43:47,764 Mr. Gibbs: And I think you've seen the President's statement 896 00:43:47,767 --> 00:43:49,937 on that and we continue to work to make that happen. 897 00:43:49,934 --> 00:43:52,804 The Press: John Boyd wants a meeting with the President. 898 00:43:52,800 --> 00:43:54,400 Is he going to get that? 899 00:43:54,400 --> 00:43:55,870 Mr. Gibbs: I have not seen that request. David. 900 00:43:55,867 --> 00:43:57,737 The Press: Is the President considering a trip to Pennsylvania to help 901 00:43:57,734 --> 00:43:59,164 Specter, who looks like he's in trouble? 902 00:43:59,166 --> 00:43:59,866 Mr. Gibbs: No. 903 00:43:59,867 --> 00:44:01,797 The Press: I mean, I just want to be clear that he wasn't thinking about it. 904 00:44:01,800 --> 00:44:02,870 Mr. Gibbs: No. 905 00:44:02,867 --> 00:44:03,537 The Press: Okay. 906 00:44:03,533 --> 00:44:05,263 The Press: Yesterday Fannie Mae said it needed another 907 00:44:05,266 --> 00:44:07,236 $8.4 billion in aid. 908 00:44:07,233 --> 00:44:08,333 Is that a concern? 909 00:44:08,333 --> 00:44:10,563 And how long is that going to go on for if they're going to 910 00:44:10,567 --> 00:44:11,767 continue to need that much -- 911 00:44:11,767 --> 00:44:19,297 Mr. Gibbs: Well, again, they -- I think that was in line with what we 912 00:44:19,300 --> 00:44:22,530 had expected in terms of their losses. 913 00:44:22,533 --> 00:44:29,903 We are strongly supportive of the need to reform the GSEs. 914 00:44:29,900 --> 00:44:34,700 As you heard again last week, I'd refer you to the answer that 915 00:44:34,700 --> 00:44:38,600 Deputy Secretary Wolin gave in terms of Secretary 916 00:44:38,600 --> 00:44:42,170 Geithner having started a process for this. 917 00:44:42,166 --> 00:44:44,896 We are eager to see reform but understanding that reform has to 918 00:44:44,900 --> 00:44:52,130 take into account a very fragile housing market. 919 00:44:52,133 --> 00:44:54,703 And we look forward to working with Congress in 920 00:44:54,700 --> 00:44:55,630 the future on that. 921 00:44:55,633 --> 00:45:02,763 I don't think that should be a cause for any delay in the 922 00:45:02,767 --> 00:45:06,237 reform that the Senate is considering now, 923 00:45:06,233 --> 00:45:10,303 that the President and I believe many believe is necessary in 924 00:45:10,300 --> 00:45:12,700 putting important rules of the road going forward. 925 00:45:12,700 --> 00:45:13,670 The Press: Can I follow? 926 00:45:13,667 --> 00:45:14,497 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 927 00:45:14,500 --> 00:45:19,170 The Press: Related to the Gulf oil spill, do we know whether MMS approved 928 00:45:19,166 --> 00:45:23,966 displacing the mud in the pipe before Halliburton finished the 929 00:45:23,967 --> 00:45:25,897 cementing plug -- plugging with cement? 930 00:45:25,900 --> 00:45:27,570 Mr. Gibbs: I'd point you to MMS. David. 931 00:45:27,567 --> 00:45:28,497 The Press: Thanks, Robert. 932 00:45:28,500 --> 00:45:31,300 In all the President's briefings on the BP oil spill, 933 00:45:31,300 --> 00:45:34,700 has it come up that this might go on for weeks or months? 934 00:45:34,700 --> 00:45:37,400 And if so, is anyone in the government considering what to 935 00:45:37,400 --> 00:45:40,530 do in that case, how to deal with a oil leak that goes for 936 00:45:40,533 --> 00:45:42,003 such a long period of time? 937 00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:42,770 Mr. Gibbs: Absolutely. 938 00:45:42,767 --> 00:45:45,937 No, I mean, I think I referred to it earlier as -- look, 939 00:45:45,934 --> 00:45:51,364 the estimates for drilling a relief well are many weeks. 940 00:45:51,367 --> 00:45:52,837 Yes -- we talked about that yesterday. 941 00:45:52,834 --> 00:45:55,034 The Press: So who is involved then in talking about contingency 942 00:45:55,033 --> 00:45:57,733 plans on the government end on how you do it? 943 00:45:57,734 --> 00:45:59,804 Mr. Gibbs: Everybody that's involved right now. 944 00:45:59,800 --> 00:46:04,700 I mean, again, the -- let me see if I can remember sort of going 945 00:46:04,700 --> 00:46:06,200 around the table yesterday. 946 00:46:06,200 --> 00:46:09,900 I think you saw these names on a readout, 947 00:46:09,900 --> 00:46:13,770 but there were -- John Brennan was there; 948 00:46:13,767 --> 00:46:18,897 Secretary Napolitano was there; Secretary Salazar; 949 00:46:18,900 --> 00:46:25,600 Secretary Chu; John Holdren, who I mentioned earlier -- 950 00:46:25,600 --> 00:46:28,970 who was sitting in front of me? 951 00:46:28,967 --> 00:46:31,837 -- Carol Browner was there -- 952 00:46:31,834 --> 00:46:32,834 The Press: But what are some of the ideas -- 953 00:46:32,834 --> 00:46:34,904 Mr. Gibbs: Dr. Lubchenco was there from NOAA -- hold on -- 954 00:46:34,900 --> 00:46:38,970 EPA; the Secretary of Defense Bob Gates; 955 00:46:38,967 --> 00:46:43,037 the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen; 956 00:46:43,033 --> 00:46:45,363 General Jones; Rahm Emanuel. 957 00:46:45,367 --> 00:46:49,167 This was a pretty senior-level meeting at the White House in 958 00:46:49,166 --> 00:46:50,596 the Situation Room with the President. 959 00:46:50,600 --> 00:46:53,270 The Press: And what are some of the ideas under consideration 960 00:46:53,266 --> 00:46:55,536 for dealing with a leak that goes on for months? 961 00:46:55,533 --> 00:46:57,333 I know it's speculative. 962 00:46:57,333 --> 00:47:03,603 Mr. Gibbs: Well, a lot of that obviously happens as a result of -- well, 963 00:47:03,600 --> 00:47:06,070 obviously there's modeling that has to take place and 964 00:47:06,066 --> 00:47:08,096 NOAA is working through some of that. 965 00:47:08,100 --> 00:47:14,330 EPA is monitoring the air as it relates to aspects of controlled 966 00:47:14,333 --> 00:47:17,163 burns that we've tried. 967 00:47:17,166 --> 00:47:20,596 Monitoring obviously is going on as it relates to, 968 00:47:20,600 --> 00:47:24,930 as I said a minute ago, sub-sea and surface dispersants -- even 969 00:47:24,934 --> 00:47:30,164 as SBA is in the area working through a claims process for 970 00:47:30,166 --> 00:47:31,366 the economic damage. 971 00:47:31,367 --> 00:47:34,667 So, David, I don't think there's anybody that's not involved 972 00:47:34,667 --> 00:47:38,167 right now that would be called in to deal with long term, 973 00:47:38,166 --> 00:47:39,836 as they're already here. 974 00:47:39,834 --> 00:47:40,704 Sam. 975 00:47:40,700 --> 00:47:41,830 The Press: Just two questions. 976 00:47:41,834 --> 00:47:45,364 One was, going back to the Miranda rights issue, 977 00:47:45,367 --> 00:47:47,637 a lot of lawyers actually have spoken up that the reading of 978 00:47:47,633 --> 00:47:51,003 the Attorney General about the public safety exception is a bit 979 00:47:51,000 --> 00:47:53,670 loose in that they're taking much more time than 980 00:47:53,667 --> 00:47:55,567 was generally believed to be allotted for a 981 00:47:55,567 --> 00:47:56,597 public safety exception. 982 00:47:56,600 --> 00:47:57,830 Will the administration look -- 983 00:47:57,834 --> 00:48:01,504 Mr. Gibbs: I'm sorry, walk me through -- 984 00:48:01,500 --> 00:48:03,200 The Press: The legal reasoning behind that? 985 00:48:03,200 --> 00:48:04,170 Mr. Gibbs: Yes. 986 00:48:04,166 --> 00:48:06,766 The Press: Well, for starters -- I mean, I could get very detailed, 987 00:48:06,767 --> 00:48:09,297 but essentially it's supposed to be a very limited time period 988 00:48:09,300 --> 00:48:11,670 in which you can exercise the public safety exception. 989 00:48:11,667 --> 00:48:13,697 For instance, if someone burglarizes a store, 990 00:48:13,700 --> 00:48:14,900 it's to look for his gun. 991 00:48:14,900 --> 00:48:16,000 And this was -- 992 00:48:16,000 --> 00:48:18,570 Mr. Gibbs: And that's what set up the Quarles exception for 993 00:48:18,567 --> 00:48:19,497 public safety, right? 994 00:48:19,500 --> 00:48:20,900 The Press: But my question is the same -- it doesn't matter 995 00:48:20,900 --> 00:48:22,700 what the interpretation is -- will the administration 996 00:48:22,700 --> 00:48:28,400 look for a legislative vehicle to expand upon what would -- 997 00:48:28,400 --> 00:48:29,570 Mr. Gibbs: Well, look, I would say this. 998 00:48:29,567 --> 00:48:37,067 The President is interested in limited flexibility. 999 00:48:37,066 --> 00:48:41,836 The President believes that the law that we have in place is an 1000 00:48:41,834 --> 00:48:45,304 important one, and obviously any change that would take 1001 00:48:45,300 --> 00:48:47,600 place would have to be done legislatively. 1002 00:48:47,600 --> 00:48:52,030 The Press: And then the second question is, the White House sent out the 1003 00:48:52,033 --> 00:48:54,533 op-ed in the Wall Street Journal from the former Harvard Law dean 1004 00:48:54,533 --> 00:48:57,633 about military recruitment on campus. 1005 00:48:57,633 --> 00:49:01,733 But earlier today Vice President Biden said that Solicitor 1006 00:49:01,734 --> 00:49:04,434 General Kagan was right to oppose military recruiters. 1007 00:49:04,433 --> 00:49:06,133 I'm wondering if you can explain -- 1008 00:49:06,133 --> 00:49:11,963 Mr. Gibbs: Well, let's just -- again, I think -- we sent out the op-ed 1009 00:49:11,967 --> 00:49:15,597 because I think you have seen those that have said 1010 00:49:15,600 --> 00:49:19,330 the military did not have access to the campus 1011 00:49:19,333 --> 00:49:21,363 at Harvard Law School -- okay? 1012 00:49:21,367 --> 00:49:24,097 The op-ed that we sent out -- for anybody who hasn't seen it, 1013 00:49:24,100 --> 00:49:27,930 I'll be happy to send it to you -- is from the former dean, 1014 00:49:27,934 --> 00:49:37,134 the dean that preceded Elena Kagan who instituted the policy 1015 00:49:37,133 --> 00:49:42,763 of non-discrimination that Elena Kagan continued. 1016 00:49:42,767 --> 00:49:48,067 Again, we sent this out so that -- because there's 1017 00:49:48,066 --> 00:49:52,296 people that either don't know or are unwilling to 1018 00:49:52,300 --> 00:49:55,400 understand the facts. 1019 00:49:55,400 --> 00:49:57,830 The military had, through a student organization, 1020 00:49:57,834 --> 00:50:00,234 access to Harvard Law School students. 1021 00:50:00,233 --> 00:50:03,303 And the semester in which they did not have access 1022 00:50:03,300 --> 00:50:06,800 to the Office of Career Services actually saw an 1023 00:50:06,800 --> 00:50:11,600 increase in the number of Harvard Law School students 1024 00:50:11,600 --> 00:50:12,730 that joined the military. 1025 00:50:12,734 --> 00:50:13,834 Bill. 1026 00:50:13,834 --> 00:50:18,204 The Press: Robert, 68 senators, Republicans and Democrats, have sent a letter 1027 00:50:18,200 --> 00:50:22,500 to the President asking him to support ratification of the 1028 00:50:22,500 --> 00:50:24,870 international treaty banning landmines. 1029 00:50:24,867 --> 00:50:26,797 What is the administration's position? 1030 00:50:26,800 --> 00:50:29,500 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have the update. I'll get something on that. 1031 00:50:29,500 --> 00:50:31,900 I know there was some discussion of that recently. 1032 00:50:31,900 --> 00:50:35,900 The Press: But the United States hasn't used them since 1991, 1033 00:50:35,900 --> 00:50:37,370 so why the hesitation? 1034 00:50:37,367 --> 00:50:40,137 Mr. Gibbs: My hesitation is I just don't have anything on it. 1035 00:50:40,133 --> 00:50:44,503 The Press: Robert, the United States traded and had diplomatic 1036 00:50:44,500 --> 00:50:47,730 relations with China and with the Soviet Union, 1037 00:50:47,734 --> 00:50:52,004 but with Iran we insist they jump through all kinds of hoops 1038 00:50:52,000 --> 00:50:53,330 and meet certain conditions. 1039 00:50:53,333 --> 00:50:54,863 Why can't we just establish -- 1040 00:50:54,867 --> 00:50:57,067 Mr. Gibbs: What do you mean? 1041 00:50:57,066 --> 00:50:58,996 The Press: That's clear, I think. 1042 00:50:59,000 --> 00:51:01,030 We say they have to come to the table and talk -- 1043 00:51:01,033 --> 00:51:04,933 why can't we just establish normal ties with Iran like we 1044 00:51:04,934 --> 00:51:08,634 had with China and the Soviet Union, and traded with them? 1045 00:51:08,633 --> 00:51:10,333 Why can't we do that with Iran? 1046 00:51:10,333 --> 00:51:11,803 Mr. Gibbs: Maybe I'm misunderstanding your question. 1047 00:51:11,800 --> 00:51:22,070 We've offered -- on any number of occasions we've offered to 1048 00:51:22,066 --> 00:51:24,996 allow them the opportunity to live up to their international 1049 00:51:25,000 --> 00:51:34,930 obligations and to enjoy what comes from being part of the 1050 00:51:34,934 --> 00:51:36,564 full international community. 1051 00:51:36,567 --> 00:51:41,097 The Press: I guess the question is, why can't we just unilaterally 1052 00:51:41,100 --> 00:51:44,630 recognize the Iranian -- why can't we do that? 1053 00:51:44,633 --> 00:51:46,303 Mr. Gibbs: Maybe I'm misunderstanding your question. 1054 00:51:46,300 --> 00:51:49,700 Again, we've given them I think plenty of opportunity 1055 00:51:49,700 --> 00:51:55,600 with which to join the international community, 1056 00:51:55,600 --> 00:51:57,730 but being part of the international community 1057 00:51:57,734 --> 00:52:01,534 means living up to the obligations and the treaties 1058 00:52:01,533 --> 00:52:04,163 that you sign that are part of the international community. 1059 00:52:04,166 --> 00:52:08,566 You can't be part of the international community 1060 00:52:08,567 --> 00:52:10,967 and then not live up to your responsibilities as it relates 1061 00:52:10,967 --> 00:52:15,337 to nuclear activities. 1062 00:52:15,333 --> 00:52:21,903 I think you saw the President discuss last fall in Pittsburgh 1063 00:52:21,900 --> 00:52:27,270 a fairly specific instance in which they were required to live 1064 00:52:27,266 --> 00:52:30,166 up to their responsibilities internationally and they failed 1065 00:52:30,166 --> 00:52:31,336 to do so. 1066 00:52:31,333 --> 00:52:34,063 The Press: On Guantanamo, real quickly, it's been four months, I think, 1067 00:52:34,066 --> 00:52:36,766 since the one-year deadline has passed. 1068 00:52:36,767 --> 00:52:38,467 We haven't heard too much about Gitmo lately. 1069 00:52:38,467 --> 00:52:40,367 Bring us up to date, if you could, on its -- 1070 00:52:40,367 --> 00:52:42,837 Mr. Gibbs: I don't have anything new. 1071 00:52:42,834 --> 00:52:48,604 Obviously last week I believe -- I may have 1072 00:52:48,600 --> 00:52:53,800 -- well, I think at least two detainees were transferred 1073 00:52:53,800 --> 00:52:54,770 to European countries. 1074 00:52:54,767 --> 00:52:58,997 I forget off the top of my head where those are. 1075 00:52:59,000 --> 00:53:08,470 We continue to go through and ensure that we have -- go 1076 00:53:08,467 --> 00:53:11,567 through the files and make sure that we have a proper accounting 1077 00:53:11,567 --> 00:53:17,867 of those that are there; understand and make transfers 1078 00:53:17,867 --> 00:53:20,997 of those that we believe are able to be transferred. 1079 00:53:21,000 --> 00:53:23,230 The Press: Rendition, you mean? 1080 00:53:23,233 --> 00:53:27,703 Mr. Gibbs: No, no, no. This is -- these are people that can be transferred, 1081 00:53:27,700 --> 00:53:30,770 again, to someplace like -- I think it was Spain and Bulgaria, 1082 00:53:30,767 --> 00:53:34,667 but I'm relying on a weeks-old memory on that. 1083 00:53:34,667 --> 00:53:39,637 So -- but we continue to work for a long-term solution that 1084 00:53:39,633 --> 00:53:41,663 would close that facility. 1085 00:53:41,667 --> 00:53:42,437 Thank you.