WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Mike Bost and three of his Republican colleagues who are subcommittee chairs with jurisdiction over federal housing programs and government accountability sent a letter to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on Thursday seeking a bevy of documents related to HUD’s oversight of public housing in Cairo over the past 20 years.

Together, the congressmen asked Carson’s office to provide them with all records of inspections, financial audits or other reviews conducted by HUD of the ACHA going back to at least 1995, as well as additional requests for records pertaining specifically to the Elmwood and McBride developments, from which HUD is in the process of relocating close to 400 people because they have fallen into unsafe conditions. 

Also requested were documents and communications relating to “potential fraud, waste or abuse involving ACHA officials or employees.”

 

Bost, R-Murphysboro, represents Illinois’ 12th congressional district, which includes Alexander County. The jointly authored letter also is signed by Rep. Sean Duffy of Wisconsin, chair of the Subcommittee on Housing & Insurance that is part of the Committee on Financial Services; Rep. Gary Palmer, of Alabama, chair of the Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee that is part of the Oversight & Government Reform Committee; and Rep. Ann Wagner, of Missouri, chair of the Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee that is part of the Committee on Financial Services.