In a speech before the nation Thursday night, President George W. Bush pledged that the federal government will do whatever it takes and stay as long as necessary to help communities rebuild following the devastation inflicted by Hurrican Katrina earlier this month.

Among the many promises made, Bush said that money would be provided that could help cover overtime pay for police and fire departments while towns and cities rebuild.

The president highlighted several acts of courage from the past weeks. He noted that "many first responders were victims themselves," calling them "wounded healers, with a sense of duty greater than their own suffering." Bush described meeting Steve Scott of the Biloxi (Miss.) Fire Department, who told the president, "I lost my house and I lost my cars, but I still got my family and I still got my spirit."

With so many emergency service providers hit by the same disaster to which they were responding, Bush said that housing for police and firefighters is urgently needed throughout the region.

"We'll provide mobile homes and supply them with basic services, as close to construction areas as possible, so the rebuilding process can go forward as quickly as possible," he said.

As the rebuilding efforts get under way, Bush said that Congress is preparing an investigation.

"I also want to know all the facts about the government response to Hurricane Katrina," he said. "The storm involved a massive flood, a major supply and security operation, and an evacuation order affecting more than a million people."

He also called for the Department of Homeland Security to review, in conjunction with its local counterparts, the emergency plans of every major American city:

"In a time of terror threats and weapons of mass destruction, the danger to our citizens reaches much wider than a fault line or a flood plain. I consider detailed emergency planning to be a national security priority."

For a complete transcript of the speech, click here.