(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced that he will be resigning. Senator Murray is the Chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees the HUD’s budget. Senator Murray joined with Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) to call for Secretary Jackson’s resignation on Friday, March 21st.
"Ten days ago, I called on Secretary Jackson to resign because it was clear that the ethical allegations against him meant that the Bush Administration’s ineffective housing policies were being burdened by an even more ineffective HUD Secretary. Today, Secretary Jackson has decided to move on but the immense challenges ahead of us to calm the housing crisis remain.
"President Bush must now nominate a Housing Secretary with the experience and credibility to attack this crisis rather than hide from it. Hopefully, with new leadership at HUD, we can negotiate a bipartisan plan with the Bush administration to spare the maximum number of families the devastating consequences of losing their home.
"I hope this resignation is more than a move to simply save face. I hope this signals an end to the neglect of needy tenants and struggling homeowners and the beginning of an administration policy that responds meaningfully to the needs of both.
"Today’s news means little to the millions of homeowners struggling to stay above water. What they care about most is meaningful action from an administration that so far has responded to Wall Street but not to Main Street. What they need is for their pleas for help from this administration to no longer fall on deaf ears."
Senator Murray will hold a hearing in her subcommittee on the foreclosure crisis with Federal Housing Administration Commissioner Brian Montgomery on April 10th.
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