MORE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE MAY BE ON THE WAY FOR VICTIMS OF TOXIC CHINESE DRYWALL
Today, Florida’s senior Senator, Senator Bill Nelson, along with Senator Mary L. Landrieu, Senator Jim Webb, and Senator Mark Warner, has written to President Obama, Secretary Geithner, Head of the Department of Treasury, Secretary Shaun Donovan, Head of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the head of the Small Business Administration asking for Federal assistance for victims of toxic Chinese drywall. These letters accurately detail the scope of the problem and the devastating effect it is having on families throughout this country.
The letter to President Obama (click here to view the actual letter to President Obama) requests White House “mobilization and coordination” of all Federal resources that may be able to help victims of toxic Chinese drywall. It pleads for the White House to investigate whether the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Emergency Management Agency can do more. It suggests that HUD may be able to provide “homeowner assistance,” and associated community grant programs that could help victims. It also suggests that FEMA provide “relocation assistance” if possible. Finally, it asks for the executive branch to establish a “one stop” Federal Drywall Assistance Center so that victims can have one centralized location to find information and obtain help.
The letter to the Department of Treasury and to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (Click here to view the actual letter from Senator Nelson to the Department of Treasury and to HUD) asked for these agencies to do more to help victims. It requested that these departments work together to make sure that the “Making Homes Affordable” program, a program designed to provide mortgage refinancing and modification for homeowners that are behind or “underwater” on their mortgages, apply to victims of toxic Chinese drywall. It also asks HUD to deploy “Foreclosure Rapid Response Teams” to affected areas. Finally, it requests that Secretary Geithner to “reach out” to mortgage lenders, especially those lenders who received federal “bailout” money in the form of TARP subsidies, to help impacted homeowners..
The letter to the head of the Small Business Administration (Click here for link to the actual letter from Senator Nelson to the SBA) asks the SBA to answer some very relevant questions in an expedited manner. Senator Nelson, on behalf of victims, wants to know whether the SBA can distribute additional funds in the form of SBA Real Property Disaster Loans that were already provided for as a result of previous disasters (such as hurricanes and floods); whether the SBA can waive the two year time limit for requesting an increase in loan limits; whether the SBA – if there is a state of emergency or disaster declared by a state Governor – can provide assistance if there are uninsured losses; and finally whether the SBA can make an Economic Injury Declaration if it is demonstrated that at least five businesses in a disaster area have suffered economic injury as a result o f toxic Chinese drywall.
All of this possible assistance is welcomed by victims of toxic Chinese drywall. However, these are only suggestions and requests – what the victims need is action. They need action and they need it now. Please call Senator Nelson’s office and make sure he knows how thankful we are for his help, but to also demand action. Also, call President Obama’s office and make sure he knows that we need action not words.