Committee Holds Hearing on Manufacturers of FEMA’s Toxic Trailers

As part of its continuing investigation into the FEMA’s toxic trailers, the Committee held a hearing on July 9, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing examined the role of four manufacturers who provided trailers with dangerous levels of formaldehyde to victims of the Gulf Cost hurricanes in 2005.

The Committee’s investigation and hearing in 2007 revealed that FEMA failed to adequately respond to reports of problems with the trailers, and the CDC recently announced that flawed manufacturing practices and lax government oversight were key factors in the production of the toxic trailers. A preliminary transcript of this hearing is now available.

The following witnesses testified:

• Dr. Michael McGeehin, Director, Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Mr. Jim Shea, Chairman, Gulf Stream Coach, Inc.
• Mr. Steve Bennett, President, Pilgrim International, Inc.
• Mr. Ronald J. Fenech, President, Keystone RV, Inc.
• Mr. Peter Liegl, President and Chief Executive Officer, Forest River, Inc.