Congressional Contaminated Drywall Caucus

 

The Consumer Products Safety Commission has created a drywall information center Web site at drywallresponse.gov  to provide updates. Anyone who suspects health symptoms and/or corrosion of electrical and metal components is tied to drywall should immediately report to CPSC's Hotline at 1-800-638-2772.

Stay updated on what the State of Florida is doing by visiting the Florida Department of Health Website.

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Information on the Contaminated Drywall Investigation

Joint CPSC/HUD Remediation Guidance. Click Here

Chamber test study results from the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Click Here

A study on possible bacteria in drywal. Click Here

An Executive Summary. Click Here

Executive Summary of the Initial Studies that were conducted by the Interagency Task Force on Chinese Drywall. View Executive Summary

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Monthly Status Updates

October status update from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. View Update

November Status update from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. View Update

December Status update from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. View Update

January Status update from the Consumer Products Safety Commission.View Update

February Status update from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. View Update

March Status update from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. View Update

April Status update from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. View Update

May Status update from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. View Update

June Status update from the Consumer Products Safety Commission. View Update

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Legislation

Congressman Diaz-Balart took to the floor of the House to speak in support of an amendment offered by Congressman Buchanan of Florida and Congressman Nye of Virginia which seeks to allow impacted homeowners to be eligible for Small Business Administration loans for home repairs. View Video 

Introduced H.R. 1977 – Drywall Safety Act with Rep. Wexler which requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to study drywall imported from China in 2004 to 2007 and places an interim ban on drywall exceeding 5% organic compounds.  (Bill has 37 Co-Sponsors as of September 9, 2009) H.R. 1977 – Drywall Safety Act

Passed Amendment with Congressman Wexler that was included in H.R. 1728- the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act, which authorized a study by the Secretary of HUD with consultation with the Secretary of Treasury on the effects of Chinese drywall on residential mortgage loan foreclosures and the availability of property insurance, and to report to Congress within 120 days on their findings.View Amendment

H.Res 197 passed the House with my support - Encouraging banks and mortgage servicers to work with families affected by contaminated drywall to allow temporary forbearance without penalty on payment on their home mortgages (Rep. Nye (D-VA)) Passed by a vote of 419-1 with MDB voting YEA

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart is the Republican who lead on H.R. 1977 which would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to study drywall imported from China in 2004 through 2007.

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Letters

Congresssman Mario Diaz-Balart and Congressman Robert Wexler urge other Members of Congress to join them in protecting homeowners from toxic drywall.  Read the Dear Colleague Here.

Letter to Appropriations Chairman Obey and Ranking Member Lewis with Congressman Wexler and Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz requesting $2 million in supplemental appropriations to allow expedited research by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (funding was not included in the final Supplemental Appropriations Act). Supplemental Drywall Appropriations Request

Letter to EPA Administrator Jackson and CDC Acting Director Besser with Congressman Wexler requesting expedited studies of Chinese drywall and homes impacted. View Letter

Letter to Speaker Pelosi with Congressman Wexler urging her to address the issue of Chinese Drywall during her trip to China. View Letter

Letter with Congressman Wexler to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Environmental Protection Agency and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention urging them to keep Members and the general public informed of their actions, to work together in an expeditious manner, to expedite testing. View Letter

View Letter of Congressman Diaz-Balart and Congressman Wexler to President Obama requesting that he directly raise the critical issue and seek assistance from Chinese President Hu Jintao and his government during the upcoming G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh.

Joint Reply from the HUD CPSC. View Letter

Congressman Diaz-Balart and Congressman Nye letter to HUD CPSC CEQ and CDC requesting a Caucus Meeting for March 2010. View Letter

Letter to the fire administrator regarding Chinese drywall. View Letter

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Videos

Watch video of Congressman Diaz-Balart speaking on the House floor about the need to act on Chinese Drywall.

Congressman Diaz-Balart took to the floor of the House to speak in support of an amendment offered by Congressman Buchanan of Florida and Congressman Nye of Virginia which seeks to allow impacted homeowners to be eligible for Small Business Administration loans for home repairs. View Video

 

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CPSC Identifies Manufacturers of Problem Drywall Made in China. View List of Contaminated Drywall Manufacturers

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Actions Taken

Established the Congressional Caucus on Contaminated Drywall co-chaired by Congressman Wexler.

Meet with major lenders to urge action to provide assistance for homeowners that enables them to either repair impacted homes or accept foreclose without impairing their credit.

Met with representatives from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to discuss possible actions the Agency can take to assist impacted homeowner and lenders.

Member of the Congressional Caucus on Contaminated Drywall and representatives of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Environmental Protection Agency and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention held a meeting in Washington in September.

At the request of Congressman Diaz-Balart, Congressman Wexler and Senator Nelson, HUD Secretary Donovan visited South Florida to tour impacted homes in October.

On 12-9-09 a meeting was held between the Congressional Contaminated Drywall Caucus and representatives of the National Association of Homebuilders Drywall Task Force to discuss efforts to address the contaminated drywall crisis.

Congressman Glenn Nye (VA-02) officially replaces Congressman Robert Wexler (FL-19) as the Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Contaminated Drywall.