Obama Statement on FEMA Trailer Hearing
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Printable FormatFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michael Ortiz, 202 228 5566
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on the House Science and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight hearing on the failure of the Center for Disease Control to protect Gulf Coast residents from contaminated FEMA trailers in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita:
"Nearly two years after we learned that FEMA trailers distributed to Gulf Coast families were contaminated with dangerous levels of toxic fumes, it is disturbing to learn that Bush Administration officials ignored these warnings. Countless lives were put at risk, and too many children suffered serious health issues. I demand that the President hold these officials accountable, and I will continue working with Senators Landrieu and McCaskill to ensure these families are no longer placed in dangerous living situations."
In December 2007, the President signed legislation into law that was introduced by Senators Obama, McCaskill and Landrieu to launch an investigation into reports of contamination and negligence by FEMA. This law was originally offered in July 2007 as an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill, with cosponsorship from Senators Mark Pryor (D-AK), Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), John Kerry (D-MA), and Tim Johnson (D-SD).