Drywall Safety Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-4212
Sponsor: Rep. Rigell, E. Scott [R-VA-2]
Introduced: 2012-03-19 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Asia
Building construction
China
Civil actions and liability
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Jurisdiction and venue
Materials
Product safety and quality
Residential rehabilitation and home repair
Trade restrictions

Summary:
action_date: 2012-03-19
text: 
Contaminated Drywall Safety Act of 2012 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State should insist that: (1) China, which has ownership interests in the companies that manufactured and exported contaminated drywall to the United States, have the companies meet with U.S. government representatives about remedying affected homeowners; and (2) such companies comply with any related U.S. court decisions.
 
Treats such contaminated drywall as a banned hazardous substance under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act and as an imminent hazard under the Consumer Product Safety Act. 
 
Directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to promulgate rules for: (1) the exemption of certain drywall determined to be non-hazardous, and (2) the identification and disposal of contaminated drywall. 
 
Subjects a person who fails to comply with the requirements of this Act to specified penalties under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act.

action_date: 2012-09-19
text: 
Drywall Safety Act of 2012 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Commerce should insist that: (1) the government of China, which has ownership interests in the companies that manufactured and exported problematic drywall to the United States, facilitate a meeting between the companies and U.S. government representatives about remedying affected homeowners; and (2) such companies comply with any related U.S. court decisions.
 
Requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to promulgate final rules concerning drywall manufactured or imported for domestic use that: (1) require each sheet to be permanently marked with the name of the manufacturer and the month and year of manufacture, and (2) limit sulfur content to a level not associated with elevated rates of corrosion in the home. Provides exceptions, and means of enforcement as a rule, if the CPSC determines that a voluntary standard in each case is adequate to permit identification and publishes the determination in the Federal Register. Provides procedures for revision of voluntary standards. 
 
Allows the initiation at any time of a subsequent rulemaking to reduce sulfur content or include a provision concerning drywall composition or characteristics that the CPSC determines is reasonably necessary to protect public health or safety.
 
Directs the CPSC to revise its &quot;Remediation Guidance for Homes with Corrosion from Problem Drywall&quot; to specify that problematic drywall removed pursuant to the guidance should not be reused or used as a component in production of new drywall.

action_date: 2012-12-21
text: 
Drywall Safety Act of 2012 - (Sec. 2) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Commerce should insist that: (1) the government of China, which has ownership interests in the companies that manufactured and exported problematic drywall to the United States, facilitate a meeting between the companies and U.S. government representatives about remedying affected homeowners; and (2) such companies comply with any related U.S. court decisions.
 
(Sec. 3) Requires certain gypsum board labeling standards of ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials), as in effect on the day before the enactment of this Act, to be treated as a rule promulgated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
 
Provides procedures for: (1) ASTM International to notify the CPSC of any subsequent revision of such standards; and (2) the revised standards to become effective unless the CPSC, within a specified period, determines that the revisions do not adequately identify gypsum board by manufacturer and month and year of manufacture.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the CPSC to promulgate a final rule concerning drywall manufactured or imported for domestic use that limits sulfur content to a level not associated with elevated rates of corrosion in the home. Provides exceptions, and means of enforcement as a rule, if the CPSC determines that a voluntary standard (developed by a specified Subcommittee on Specifications and Test Methods for Gypsum Products of ASTM International) is adequate to permit identification and publishes the determination in the Federal Register. Provides procedures for revision of such voluntary standards. 
 
Allows the CPSC, at any time subsequent to publication of such a rule, to initiate a rulemaking to modify the sulfur content limit or include a provision relating only to drywall composition or characteristics that the CPSC determines is reasonably necessary to protect public health or safety.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the CPSC to revise its &quot;Remediation Guidance for Homes with Corrosion from Problem Drywall&quot; to specify that problematic drywall removed pursuant to the guidance should not be reused or used as a component in production of new drywall.

action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 21, 2012

. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Drywall Safety Act of 2012 - (Sec. 2) Expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Commerce should insist that: (1) the government of China, which has ownership interests in the companies that manufactured and exported problematic drywall to the United States, facilitate a meeting between the companies and U.S. government representatives about remedying affected homeowners; and (2) such companies comply with any related U.S. court decisions.
 
(Sec. 3) Requires certain gypsum board labeling standards of ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials), as in effect on the day before the enactment of this Act, to be treated as a rule promulgated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
 
Provides procedures for: (1) ASTM International to notify the CPSC of any subsequent revision of such standards; and (2) the revised standards to become effective unless the CPSC, within a specified period, determines that the revisions do not adequately identify gypsum board by manufacturer and month and year of manufacture.
 
(Sec. 4) Requires the CPSC to promulgate a final rule concerning drywall manufactured or imported for domestic use that limits sulfur content to a level not associated with elevated rates of corrosion in the home. Provides exceptions, and means of enforcement as a rule, if the CPSC determines that a voluntary standard (developed by a specified Subcommittee on Specifications and Test Methods for Gypsum Products of ASTM International) is adequate to permit identification and publishes the determination in the Federal Register. Provides procedures for revision of such voluntary standards. 
 
Allows the CPSC, at any time subsequent to publication of such a rule, to initiate a rulemaking to modify the sulfur content limit or include a provision relating only to drywall composition or characteristics that the CPSC determines is reasonably necessary to protect public health or safety.
 
(Sec. 5) Directs the CPSC to revise its &quot;Remediation Guidance for Homes with Corrosion from Problem Drywall&quot; to specify that problematic drywall removed pursuant to the guidance should not be reused or used as a component in production of new drywall.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Became Public Law No: 112-266.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Became Public Law No: 112-266.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2013-01-03
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2013-01-03
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2013-01-01
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2013-01-01
text: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 378 - 37 (Roll no. 657). (text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR 12/30/2012 H7448-7449)
action_date: 2013-01-01
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by recorded vote (2/3 required): 378 - 37 (Roll no. 657).(text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR 12/30/2012 H7448-7449)
action_date: 2013-01-01
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7530-7531)
action_date: 2012-12-30
text: At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Ms. Hochul objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
action_date: 2012-12-30
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 4212.
action_date: 2012-12-30
text: Mr. Terry moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H7448-7450)
action_date: 2012-12-27
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2012-12-21
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2012-12-21
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2012-12-21
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8377-8378)
action_date: 2012-12-21
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2012-12-21
text: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2012-09-20
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6134-6135)
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6134-6135)
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4212.
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6134-6137)
action_date: 2012-09-19
text: Mrs. Bono Mack moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2012-05-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.
action_date: 2012-05-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
action_date: 2012-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-03-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2012-03-19
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2012-03-19
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 112-266