I want to assure . . . (that) the state and federal agencies are coordinating their efforts,

Of all the things I've done, the most vital is coordinating those who work with me and aiming their efforts at a certain goal

At the meantime, we don't know exactly if they were applying for asylum. The Indonesian Embassy has been coordinating efforts with the Australian authorities to gather information.

It involves greater surveillance. It involves improving the working relationship among federal and state and local agencies. It involves more border control and border opportunities to deal with those involved in crossing our borders,

It's a coordinating post, a policy post. But clearly various agencies continue to have their vital functions, which are much more operational and mission-oriented.

The president is doing the right thing to assure people that the federal government is much better prepared for Rita than it was for Katrina.