The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development spoke about economic development, homelessness and racial segregation in housing assignments across the country Tuesday night to a group of about 100 students.
The event, sponsored by the College Republicans, marked the first time in at least seven years that a sitting member of the U.S. Cabinet has addressed the organization, said College Republicans Chairman Gary Livacari.
"It's a rare occasion to host someone who makes decisions on the executive level that affect the lives of millions of Americans every day," said Livacari, a senior. "We've hosted other important speakers like John Ashcroft and Anne Coulter, but Secretary Jackson is more than a thinker or a commentator, he's a doer."
The HUD aims to "increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination," according to the department's Web site.
A theme of Jackson's 20-minute speech was how the administration of President George W. Bush has spurred economic development.
"President Bush is building a future of dreams and opportunities for not just a select few but for everyone to enjoy the American Dream," Jackson said.
The federal government's general approach to tackling issues facing America, Jackson said, is the Bush Administration's three E's policy - economy, education and energy.
"The future begins with economic growth and as you enter the job market you will benefit from the Bush administration's policies," Jackson told the crowd of students.
He cited a statistic that a half million jobs have been created in the last three months and that the average American income has grown by $7,800 in the last three years. He called housing "the backbone of the economy" and shared a goal of Bush's to have 5.5 million new homeowners by 2010, particularly in the black and Hispanic populations.
"Some people say (Bush) is stubborn, he's realistic," Jackson said.
The event, sponsored by the College Republicans, marked the first time in at least seven years that a sitting member of the U.S. Cabinet has addressed the organization, said College Republicans Chairman Gary Livacari.
"It's a rare occasion to host someone who makes decisions on the executive level that affect the lives of millions of Americans every day," said Livacari, a senior. "We've hosted other important speakers like John Ashcroft and Anne Coulter, but Secretary Jackson is more than a thinker or a commentator, he's a doer."
The HUD aims to "increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination," according to the department's Web site.
A theme of Jackson's 20-minute speech was how the administration of President George W. Bush has spurred economic development.
"President Bush is building a future of dreams and opportunities for not just a select few but for everyone to enjoy the American Dream," Jackson said.
The federal government's general approach to tackling issues facing America, Jackson said, is the Bush Administration's three E's policy - economy, education and energy.
"The future begins with economic growth and as you enter the job market you will benefit from the Bush administration's policies," Jackson told the crowd of students.
He cited a statistic that a half million jobs have been created in the last three months and that the average American income has grown by $7,800 in the last three years. He called housing "the backbone of the economy" and shared a goal of Bush's to have 5.5 million new homeowners by 2010, particularly in the black and Hispanic populations.
"Some people say (Bush) is stubborn, he's realistic," Jackson said.
