美國布希總統6月19日視察受洪水肆虐的愛荷華州，他向愛荷華州的災民表示，他能感受他們的痛苦，同時也鼓勵災民們彼此幫助，共同度過這個難關。洪水淹沒了愛荷華州超過2/3的面積，破壞道路、沖垮橋墩、摧毀了家園和農作物。
布希總統在視察洪災三個小時的行程當中表示，「我想再次對那些展現偉大同情心，致力於救災工作，擁抱人民，給人民希望的當地民眾表達感謝之意。」
布希向愛荷華州的災民們保證，對那些被洪水沖毀的小城鎮，政府的關懷不會減少，他指出「就像我們關懷錫達拉皮茲市（Cedar Rapids）一樣，我們也同樣關懷這些小城鎮，許多災民質疑政府是否也聽到了他們的心聲，我在這裡可以向你們保證，我知道州長非常關心災情，而我們也一樣。」
布希對於洪災救助基金沒有允諾明確的金額，但他提到國會目前正通過伊拉克戰爭撥款條例的補助款項，而補助款大部分將會用於急難救助基金。
美國眾議院代表們6月19日晚間也通過了一項補助預算法案，其中包括了約有26億5000萬美元將用於協助美國中西部的洪災修復工作，該法案預計下周在參議院也將獲得快速通過。
白宮預算管理局（White House Office of Management and Budget, OMB）局長倪塞爾（Jim Nussle）表示，目前政府的救災專戶有40億美元，雖然目前對於防洪抗災與災後修復工作需要花費多少費用還沒有明確的估算，但應該足夠對當前的洪災提供基金援助。而補助款也必須隨時補足救災專戶，對未來的救災工作做好萬全準備。
布希總統在愛荷華市表示，他將保證政府的各個階層，小至當地社區，大至聯邦政府，都必須協同合作，以加速災後重建工作的進行。
「此次與我同行聯邦官員很多，在重建工作的初始階段，聯邦政府、州政府以及當地政府之間的協調工作是非常重要的，而謝爾多夫（Michael Chertoff）將負責和州長之間的協調工作，同時，州長也必須確實反應所有受到洪災影響的社區的實際情況。」
Visiting flood-ravaged Iowa Thursday, President George W. Bush told Iowans he feels their pain and encouraged them to help each other cope with the floods that have inundated more than two-thirds of the state, damaging roads, washing out bridges, and destroying homes and crops.
"I really again want to congratulate the local folks here for really showing great compassion and working hard and hugging people and giving people hope," the president said during his three-hour tour of the state.
Bush assured Iowans that the concerns of the small towns washed out by floodwaters will not be forgotten. "As we worry about Cedar Rapids we also got to worry about the little towns," he said. "A lot of folks are wondering whether or not the government hears about them, too, and I can assure you that I know the governor cares deeply about it, and so do we."
Bush gave no specific dollar figure for flood relief but mentioned that Congress is passing a supplement to an Iraq war funding bill "and a chunk of that supplemental will be disaster relief money."
About $2.65 billion for flood recovery assistance across the Midwest is attached to a supplemental spending bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday night and expected to be quickly passed by the Senate early next week.
Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, OMB, Jim Nussle said there is $4 billion in the government disaster account now, enough to fund this current disaster although there is no firm estimate of how much the flood response and recovery will cost, he said. The supplemental is to replenish the disaster accounts to be ready for future disasters.
In Iowa City, the president said he wants to ensure that all levels of government - from the smallest communities to the giant federal bureaucracy - work together to speed recovery.
"I brought a lot of federal officials with me because it's really important that as the rebuilding phase begins, there's a coordinated effort between the federal government and the state and the local governments. And Michael Chertoff is going to be handling the coordinating effort with the Governor. And the Governor will make sure that the affected communities are represented, as well.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
