Wexler and Diaz-Balart Fight for Federal Funding for Chinese Drywall Investigation}
Request $2 million emergency funding

(Washington, DC) Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) sent a letter to the respective leaders of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations urging that emergency funding be included in the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009 for Chinese drywall investigations by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and other federal agencies. The letter -- addressed to Senate Appropriations Chairman Senator Daniel Inouye, Vice Chairman Senator Thad Cochran, and House Appropriations Chairman David Obey and Ranking Member Congressman Jerry Lewis -- emphasizes that the Senate agreed to this funding on May 21st, 2009 and that it should remain in the final Conference report on the appropriations legislation.

“The health and safety impacts of Chinese drywall must be determined by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and funding from Congress will help ensure the ability of officials to complete these vital studies,” said Congressman Wexler. “Thousands of families in South Florida and across the nation await a conclusion regarding the Chinese drywall in their homes. I strongly believe we must pinpoint the dangerous substances within Chinese drywall and move forward on a solution for the many homeowners dealing with this devastating problem.”

“This funding is essential for a comprehensive investigation of the health and safety hazards caused by Chinese drywall in Southern Florida and throughout the country," said Congressman Diaz-Balart.  "This is a critical issue that is affecting the health and wellbeing of thousands of families and must be prioritized.  It is important that we act now to avoid devastating results and long term affects.”

Congressman Wexler and Congressman Diaz-Balart have also registered the Congressional Contaminated Drywall Caucus with the Committee on House Administration to better coordinate efforts in Congress to help the thousands of Americans dealing with this silent hurricane.  Wexler and Diaz-Balart will seek the membership of the twenty current cosponsors of their legislation, the Drywall Safety Act of 2009, as well as other interested members, on the caucus.

A copy of the letter is available for download here.

Congressman Robert Wexler is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. Recently, Congressman Wexler served as an advisor on Middle East issues to President Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign.

###

back to News