[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 168 (Tuesday, November 10, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S11356]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


ENCOURAGING BANKS AND MORTGAGE SERVICERS TO WORK WITH FAMILIES AFFECTED 
                        BY CONTAMINATED DRYWALL

  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 352.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 352) encouraging banks and mortgage 
     servicers to work with families affected by contaminated 
     drywall to allow temporary forbearance without penalty on 
     payments on their home mortgages.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and that any statements related to the matter be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 352) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 352

       Whereas since January 2009, over 1,300 cases of 
     contaminated drywall have been reported in 26 States and the 
     District of Columbia;
       Whereas many individuals living in homes with contaminated 
     drywall have reported problems with their health, including 
     bloody noses, rashes, sore throats, burning eyes, and upper 
     respiratory tract conditions;
       Whereas some homeowners living with contaminated drywall 
     have reported corrosion of metals inside their homes, such as 
     air conditioning coils and electrical wiring;
       Whereas as a result of these problems, many families that 
     have contaminated drywall in their homes have moved out of 
     their residences and into temporary living situations, with 
     few such families being able to afford an additional 
     financial burden;
       Whereas because of cases of contaminated drywall, some 
     Americans who pay their mortgages on time are now suffering 
     from financial problems at no fault of their own; and
       Whereas banks and mortgage servicers can help families 
     affected by contaminated drywall by providing temporary 
     forbearance with respect to their mortgage payments to help 
     such families afford the costs of an additional residence 
     while they are removed from their primary homes: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate encourages banks and mortgage 
     servicers to work with families affected by contaminated 
     drywall to allow temporary forbearance without penalty on 
     payments on their home mortgages.

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