Obama to Gulf Residents: Count on US Government Response to Oil Spill

14 June 2010

President Barack Obama meets with residents affected by the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in Gulfport, Mississippi, 14 Jun 2010

President Barack Obama says the federal government is committed "for the long haul" to help residents along the Gulf of Mexico deal with the economic and environmental impact of the BP oil spill. The president spoke on his fourth visit to the affected area, ahead of an address to the nation on Tuesday and a meeting with top BP officials on Wednesday.

Meeting with residents and business owners, and accompanied by state and local officials, the president spent the day visiting oil spill response and coordination centers in Mississippi and Alabama.

After a briefing by U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, who is in charge of the overall government response, the president said he wants people along the Gulf of Mexico to know that the government, as he put it, is in this for the long haul.

Mr. Obama said he is committed to ensuring that people and businesses in the area are adequately compensated for damages and losses they are experiencing, adding that problems remain with the process of filing claims with BP.

APPresident Barack Obama, accompanied by Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, left, makes remarks at the Theodore Staging Area in Theodore, Alabama, 14 June 2010