U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) wrote to the Secretary of the Army, asking for detailed information regarding the military’s contracts with private companies to provide on-base housing for military families in Virginia.
Original Title
02.28.2019 MRW TK to SECARMY Re Private Housing Concerns
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) wrote to the Secretary of the Army, asking for detailed information regarding the military’s contracts with private companies to provide on-base housing for military families in Virginia.
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) wrote to the Secretary of the Army, asking for detailed information regarding the military’s contracts with private companies to provide on-base housing for military families in Virginia.
Wnited States Senate
WASHINGTON, DC 20510
February 28, 2019
The Honorable Mark T. Esper
Secretary of the Army
101 Army Pentagon
‘Washington, DC 20310-0101
Dear Secretary Esper:
We write today to follow up on our meetings and previous letters we have written to you and
other military leadership about alleged pervasive health hazards in private military housing
across the country, and to request information regarding private Army housing in Vit
including at Fort Belvoir, Fort Story, Fort Eustis, and Fort Lee.
As you know, Clark Realty Capital, Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC., and Hunt Military
Communities manage thousands of military family homes in V: An August 2018
investigation by Reuters revealed serious concerns about lead poisoning at a number of Army
installations, and found that a number of military bases had not been following state health laws
mandating they report children’s blood test results to their health departments, This follows a
2015 DoD inspector general report that found significant lead paint hazards at Fort Belvoir.
Following this investigation we joined a number of our colleagues in writing you, expressing our
deep concem over the report. In addition to requesting a detailed briefing outlining the
immediate and long-term mitigation strategies to ensure military housing is safe and secure for
‘our servicemembers and their families, we requested that the Army provide medical treatment
for those potentially or previously affected, make long-lasting repairs, and provide legislative
proposals or guidance on legislation needed to ensure that there is increased accountability for
private companies.
The health and safety of our servicemembers and their families are of the utmost importance.
Our nation’s military families deserve safe and healthy housing, and it is imperative that the
Army alleviate these issues.
As you work to develop a plan addressing this health crisis, we request the following
information:
1, Copies of the contracts ~ with the appropriate redaction of competition-sensitive
information — currently in place at Fort Belvoir, Fort Eustis, Fort Lee and Fort Story;
2. Copies of the service- or department-level guidance and policy documents that relate
directly to contracting for on-base privatized housing;
Copies of the standard operating procedures for responding to and rectifying lead paint
and other habitability, safety, and health complaints in government-owned housing; and
4, Any information on whether cure notices were sent to these private companies, including
Clark Realty Capital, Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC., and Hunt Military
Communities, for failure to adhere to their contractual obligations.Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We look forward to your timely response.
Sincerely,
a)
{ARK R. WARNER TIM KAINE
United States Senator United States Senator