Priorities
Getting answers on Chinese drywall
May 21 2009
Senator Warner pressed federal regulators and scientists at a Senate hearing today on problems reported in homes across Hampton Roads that include high-sulfur Chinese drywall.
The EPA and Consumer Product Safety Commission have determined more tests are needed, including air sampling in affected houses, to determine whether the drywall is the cause of corroded wiring and appliances, and alleged health problems.
At today’s Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance, Senator Warner pressed agency officials for better answers and more specific deadlines:
Chinese drywall has been blamed for fumes that cause an odor of rotten eggs, metal corrosion and alleged health problems in thousands of homes, mostly in the Southeast, including Florida, Louisiana and Virginia.
UPDATE: WAVY-TV in Norfolk ran this story last night:
And the Virginian-Pilot ran a front-page story this morning on affected homeowners from Hampton Roads who attended the hearing:
"It's stunning to me that we have people... having symptoms just from going into these homes to do these tests," Warner said. "And we're leaving the homes and then saying to the homeowners, 'Hang in there.' That's outrageous."