Houston Representatives Slam Government, Texas Officials for Hurricane Housing Delays

Washington, D.C.–Two Houston lawmakers criticized officials–from both the government and Texas–this week for the slow housing replacement rate for Hurricane Rita and Katrina victims, the Houston Chronicle said.At the investigative hearing, held by the House Homeland Security Committee in Washington, D.C., Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, called the efforts “a complete failure” and Rep. Al Green, D-Houston suggested “heads really should roll for letting this go on and on and on.” Thousands of Texans have been living for more than three years in trailers that contain cancer-causing formaldehyde, according to Jackson Lee and Green.Government agencies and Texas officials blamed other parties during the hearing, according to the Chronicle. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s General Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Community Planning and Development Nelson Bregón agreed, saying that people should not still be living in trailers.The housing situation “is FEMA’s responsibility” and HUD is “very concerned” and “working with the states,” according to Bregón.