    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [March 31, 2008]
    [Pages 441-442]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Resignation of Alphonso R. Jackson as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
    March 31, 2008

        Today Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson
    announced his decision to leave the Department after 7 years of
    dedicated service. I have known Alphonso Jackson for many years, and I
    have known him to be a strong leader and a good man. I have accepted his
    resignation with regret.
        Secretary Jackson is a great American success story. The youngest of
    12 children--his father was a foundry worker, and his mother was a nurse midwife--Alphonso has always understood
    the value of hard

    [[Page 442]]

    work and equal opportunity for all Americans.
        For more than three decades, he has worked to help more Americans
    become homeowners and strengthen communities throughout our Nation.
    While leading the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Alphonso
    made significant progress in transforming public housing, revitalizing
    and modernizing the Federal Housing Administration, increasing
    affordable housing, rebuilding the Gulf Coast, decreasing homelessness,
    and increasing minority homeownership.
        Laura and I treasure our strong friendship
    with Secretary Jackson, his wife Marcia,
    their daughters Annette and Lesley, and their granddaughter Lauren. We wish them all the best.