The search for “a fix” continues as members of Congress solicit aid for their constituents buried under and suffering symptoms from the Chinese drywall in their homes. While litigation efforts may be nearer than what had been previously thought (check this blog tomorrow), homeowners may need help sooner than even that. As a result, Senators from various states have united to try to get help for these people in need.
The Senators, all Democrats, all come from Southern states in which homes were tainted by the Chinese drywall. In soliciting assistance from the White House, the members of Congress are working to exhaust all opportunities available to them in order to get change and relief for homeowners. The Virginia-Pilot reports
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb of Virginia and other lawmakers sent letters this week to government agencies urging them to come to the aid of families and businesses hurt by tainted Chinese-made drywall.
In a letter dated Tuesday, the lawmakers encouraged the Small Business Administration to determine whether the agency has a role in helping home-owners and businesses affected by the drywall, which has been blamed for corroding pipes and air-conditioning coils and causing electronic appliances to fail.
“Families in our states are, in many cases, watching their dream homes turn into nightmares,” the senators wrote. “As the Federal government determines the full size and scope of this disaster, we believe it is important to marshal all appropriate Federal resources that may assist these families.”
The Small Business Administration offers loans to individuals and businesses to help repair or replace property damaged in a federally declared disaster.
Webb, along with Sens. Bill Nelson of Florida and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, all Democrats, also sent a letter to the departments of Treasury and Housing and Urban Development asking the agencies to expand mortgage relief programs to include home-owners with Chinese-made drywall.
It will be interesting to see how the White House responds to this solicitation for help in a tough economic climate. Obviously putting the opportunity for them to do something is better than nothing at all. This blog will monitor and stay abreast of news as it happens and post what we find.