Virginia Injury Lawyer Blog

Chinese Drywall Reaches Capitol Hill | Senators Discuss the Problem | American Manufacturers | Florida Virginia North Carolina Georgia California Texas New York

Defective Chinese drywall has been the news of concern for thousands of homeowners across the U.S. and even in Canada.  This past week, the issue finally reached Capitol Hill.

According to the Herald Tribune "Two separate hearings were held in the Senate to discuss the problem."  Senator Bill Nelson of Florida attended the hearings and reportedly drilled into federal agencies who have been investigating the situation, but have not produced any solutions or relief to homeowners.

Discussion of new laws to be put in place also circulated the hearings: new standards on imported materials, making it easier to sue foreign manufacturers of defective products, and of course discussing a possible nationwide recall of defective drywall.

For now the Consumer Product Safety Commission says that China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) will be coming to Washington in June. Although they have yet to answer any of the "detailed questions" sent to them.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission also plans to send investigators to China. 

Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Daniel Inouye, proposed that he would like to see the CPSC use more than $2 million of its budget for drywall testing and investigation.   There also seems to be support coming from other departments, "Let's get this analyzed as quickly as possible, and if it poses any danger we ought to know it," says Illinois Democrat Richard Durbin. 

Florida Attorney Robert Gary, who is part of a federal lawsuit in Florida seeking class action status against drywall manufacturers and suppliers, also traveled to the nation's Capitol for the hearing. 

The Herald Tribune reports, "He said the focus on Chinese drywall alone may obscure Congressional probing of the homeowners who have corrosion and smells, but no Chinese drywall -- only products coming from American manufacturers."

"It's only going to be just the tip of the iceberg," Attorney Robert Gary said.

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Labels: AQSIQ chinese drywall Consumer Product Safety Commission D.C. Daniel Inouye Florida General Administration of Quality Supervision hearing Inspection and Quarantine Robery Gary Senate Appropriations Committee Senator Bill Nelson Virginia Washington