Construction Law

U.S. Senate Expresses Concern over Chinese Drywall Issues

By Ryan McCabe

            On March 30, 2009, Florida senator, Bill Nelson, introduced to the Senate Bill S.Res.91. The bill is entitled: "A Resolution Calling on the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Take Action on Issues Relating to Drywall Imported from China."

            Between 2004 and 2007 the United States imported drywall from China, most of it for building houses after hurricane Katrina. The imported drywall turned out to be toxic, posing potential serious health threats to people, and enraging and terrifying homeowners. While contractors and subcontractors may face accusations of negligence for using cheaper drywall at the expense of quality, the sky-high demand for building supplies post-Katrina may be a reasonable explanation for the increase in the quantity of imported Chinese drywall. 

            Senator Nelson's bill urges "the Consumer Product Safety Commission to: (1) initiate a formal proceeding to investigate drywall imported from China from 2004 through 2007; (2) prohibit further importation of drywall and associated building products from China; (3) order a recall of hazardous Chinese drywall; (4) seek civil penalties against the drywall manufacturers in China that produced or distributed hazardous drywall and their U.S. subsidiaries to cover the cost of the recall effort and associated remediation."

            The defective Chinese drywall has reportedly been also used in building projects in South Carolina. You may learn more about the health effects and detection techniques of the Chinese drywall by reading the following article. 

            This site and any information contained herein is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek a competent attorney for advice on any legal matter.

Full post as published by The South Carolina Construction Law Blog on April 30, 2009 (boomark / email).