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30 December 2004

Bush to Send Delegation to Tsunami-Stricken Region

Powell, Governor Jeb Bush to visit disaster areas

President Bush will send a delegation January 2, 2005, led by Secretary of State Colin Powell and Governor Jeb Bush of Florida to areas stricken by the December 26 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

The delegation will meet with regional leaders and international organizations to assess needs and additional aid that can be provided by the United States. Governor Bush, the president’s brother, managed relief efforts after four successive hurricanes devastated Florida in 2004.

Following is a text of the White House statement:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

(Crawford, Texas)

For Immediate Release December 30, 2004

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

All Americans are shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of life and the destruction around the Indian Ocean. In this hour of critical need, America is joining with other nations and international organizations to do everything possible to provide assistance and relief to the victims and their families.

Already cargo aircraft, support personnel, naval units, and aid shipments have been dispatched. To coordinate this massive relief effort, first-hand assessments are needed by individuals on the ground. On Sunday, January 2, I will send a delegation of experts to the affected areas to meet with regional leaders and international organizations to assess what additional aid can be provided by the United States. The delegation will be led by Secretary of State Colin Powell and Governor Jeb Bush, who has extensive experience in the State of Florida with relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts following natural disasters. I look forward to receiving the delegation's assessment of the relief efforts so that our Government can best help those in need.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)