Sen. Menendez (D-N.J.) says institution-building is the most important part of foreign aid even though it does not bring immediate dividends. (0:43)

 

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Sen. Menendez (D-N.J.) sees foreign aid to Latin and South America as mutually beneficial for them and the United States. (0:41)

 

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Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) criticizing Secretary Alphonso Jackson at Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing on oversight of H.U.D. program and its fiscal year 2009 budget. (1:02)

 

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Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Alphonso Jackson testified before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee today regarding oversight of HUD program and its fiscal year 2009 budget. Jackson’s comments about the HUD program were met with both criticism and support from Senators of both parties.

Jackson’s program was particularly called into question by democrats skeptical that the funding requested by the Bush Administration for HUD was insufficient in helping to slow the increasingly high rate of housing foreclosures dooming homeowners across the nation.

Chaired by Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Senators Casey (D-PA) and Menendez (D-NJ) engaged in often heated discussion with Jackson over not only their frustration with his lack of success as Secretary, but also over allegations that members of his staff had acted in a controversial manner. Jackson, citing the fact that the case was still not being made public, refused to discuss the case in front of Congress. The verbal jabs of Casey and Menendez were met with support for Jackson and his efforts by other Senators, particularly Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO).