"I think my colleagues will tell you we cut through the bureaucracy," Biden said during remarks after meeting with families. "The one order I gave the federal folks was no bureaucracy, just cut through and get to whatever they need."
Biden spent much of the day speaking with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantisand Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Several members of //the state's congressional delegation, Republican Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz, were also in attendance.
In an unannounced stop, Biden and the First Lady prayed at a memorial wall for missing family members. The First Lady laid a bouquet of white roses. The two held hands as they prayed, as Biden held his head down. The president made a sign of the cross before turning away and walking back to the motorcade.
In remarks ahead of a roundtable with officials, Levine Cava said the collaboration among local, state and federal government is bringing hope to the community.
“This is an unprecedented, devastating disaster unlike anyone has ever seen,” Levine Cava said. “It's shocked the world, and the fact that we've all come together is what gives us hope, is what gives us strength and inspiration.”
DeSantis in his remarks noted that there has been “no bureaucracy,” when working with the federal government, saying “we're literally getting requests routed from local to state to federal in no time and the approvals happening.”
“There will be no bureaucracy,” Biden responded.
Biden, with the first lady by his side, met with roughly 50 first responders in a ballroom at the St. Regis following the roundtable meeting.
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