Pelosi Unveils House Health Care Bill
Last week, the Democratic House leadership unveiled their nearly-final draft health care reform bill. The bill makes some improvements to the employer mandate, by doubling the floor for penalties on small businesses for not providing health care benefits to employees and dependents. Previously, the penalties began at $250,000 in total wages; now, they begin at $500,000 in wages. Read more.
CPSC Issues Inconclusive Chinese Drywall Report
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) last week issued a summary of its findings to date on the Chinese drywall investigation. An interagency task force, comprised of the CPSC, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and state health departments have been coordinating research and governmental response to homeowners who have complained of health and metal and appliance corrosion in their homes. Read more.
OSHA Takes Initial Step Toward Combustible Dust Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) just published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) in the Oct. 21 edition of the Federal Register as an initial step in development of a standard to address the hazards of combustible dust. Read more.
Home Builder Confidence Dips in October
With the expiration date for an important home buyer incentive approaching, builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes slipped one point to 18 in October, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).
Read more.
Showing posts with label Drywall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drywall. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
News You Can Use - Product Information
Insurers dropping Chinese drywall policies
By BRIAN SKOLOFF, Associated Press
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - James and Maria Ivory's dreams of a relaxing
retirement on Florida's Gulf Coast were put on hold when they discovered
their new home had been built with Chinese drywall that emits sulfuric fumes
and corrodes pipes. It got worse when they asked their insurer for help -
and not only was their claim denied, but they've been told their entire
policy won't be renewed.
Thousands of homeowners nationwide who bought new houses constructed from
the defective building materials are finding their hopes dashed, their lives
in limbo. And experts warn that cases like the Ivorys', in which insurers
drop policies or send notices of non-renewal based on the presence of the
Chinese drywall, will become rampant as insurance companies process the
hundreds of claims currently in the pipeline. Read more.
By BRIAN SKOLOFF, Associated Press
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - James and Maria Ivory's dreams of a relaxing
retirement on Florida's Gulf Coast were put on hold when they discovered
their new home had been built with Chinese drywall that emits sulfuric fumes
and corrodes pipes. It got worse when they asked their insurer for help -
and not only was their claim denied, but they've been told their entire
policy won't be renewed.
Thousands of homeowners nationwide who bought new houses constructed from
the defective building materials are finding their hopes dashed, their lives
in limbo. And experts warn that cases like the Ivorys', in which insurers
drop policies or send notices of non-renewal based on the presence of the
Chinese drywall, will become rampant as insurance companies process the
hundreds of claims currently in the pipeline. Read more.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
NLBMDA: CPSC Finds No Radiation Risk from Manufactured Drywall
The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has reported that testing conducted by federal and state agency radiation laboratories found no radiation safety risk to families in homes built with manufactured drywall.
Responding to recent news accounts about the possibility of imported drywall containing radioactive phosphogypsum, federal and state agency radiation laboratories analyzed multiple samples of drywall obtained by the CPSC and the Florida Department of Health(FLDOH). Twenty-one samples were analyzed from homes and manufacturers of drywall. Seventeen were obtained by CPSC from manufacturers and suppliers in multiple states, and four were obtained by FLDOH from homes exhibiting copper corrosion, odors and occupant complaints. Results of the phosphogypsum testing showed levels that do not pose a radiation safety risk to families.
CPSC stated that federal and state scientists believe that imported and domestically-manufactured drywall associated with these samples does not pose a radiological concern to consumers. For more information, visit the CPSC website here.
Responding to recent news accounts about the possibility of imported drywall containing radioactive phosphogypsum, federal and state agency radiation laboratories analyzed multiple samples of drywall obtained by the CPSC and the Florida Department of Health(FLDOH). Twenty-one samples were analyzed from homes and manufacturers of drywall. Seventeen were obtained by CPSC from manufacturers and suppliers in multiple states, and four were obtained by FLDOH from homes exhibiting copper corrosion, odors and occupant complaints. Results of the phosphogypsum testing showed levels that do not pose a radiation safety risk to families.
CPSC stated that federal and state scientists believe that imported and domestically-manufactured drywall associated with these samples does not pose a radiological concern to consumers. For more information, visit the CPSC website here.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
NLBMDA News - CPSC to Ramp Up Testing of Chinese Drywall
CPSC to Ramp Up Testing of Chinese Drywall
During a May 21 hearing in the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) noted that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) would be receiving $2 million in additional funding, approved in a supplemental appropriations bill that day, to ramp up testing of problematic drywall in homes in Florida, Louisiana, Virginia and other states. Read more.
During a May 21 hearing in the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) noted that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) would be receiving $2 million in additional funding, approved in a supplemental appropriations bill that day, to ramp up testing of problematic drywall in homes in Florida, Louisiana, Virginia and other states. Read more.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
NLBMDA News - Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Chinese Drywall
Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Chinese Drywall
This Thursday, May 21, the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance, chaired by Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR), will hold a hearing to investigate the Chinese drywall situation. Witnesses have not yet been named, but NLBMDA will be attending the hearing and continue to keep members apprised of any developments at the federal level.
Dealers with questions or interest in the issue are encouraged to contact Colleen Levine at colleen@dealer.org.
This Thursday, May 21, the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance, chaired by Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR), will hold a hearing to investigate the Chinese drywall situation. Witnesses have not yet been named, but NLBMDA will be attending the hearing and continue to keep members apprised of any developments at the federal level.
Dealers with questions or interest in the issue are encouraged to contact Colleen Levine at colleen@dealer.org.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
NLBMDA News - Legislative Affairs
From the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealer Association
Legislative Affairs
Recess Is Over
Members of Congress return to Washington today with a daunting agenda planned between now and the summer breaks. Both the House and the Senate passed FY2010 budget resolutions before the break, which must now be reconciled into a final version. NLBMDA is hopeful that the final resolution will contain the Senate-passed allowance for the estate tax ($5 million exemption and 35 percent rate) but such relief would still have to overcome a likely Senate filibuster with at least 60 votes in support. Both Chambers will be taking up climate legislation with a goal of final passage by the August recess. Card check proponents were active over the spring break but still face a challenge in reaching the 60 votes they need to move forward. NLBMDA and the business community must remain vigilant in informing legislators of the dangers of this legislation, or any so-called compromises, that effectively strip workers of their right to a secret ballot election to determine union representation.
TAKE ACTION: Tell your Representative and Senators to reject card check legislation that would further jeopardize jobs and our economic recovery. Visit Build the Vote and follow the prompts to quickly send an e-mail message today.
Bill Targeting Chinese Drywall Introduced
Senators Ben Nelson (D-FL) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) have taken further steps to address the Chinese drywall investigations currently underway in Florida and other states. Together with Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), they have introduced the "Drywall Safety Act" (S. 793/H.R. 1977) to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to study drywall imported from China in 2004 through 2007 and call for a ban on the import of Chinese drywall and "related materials." Dealers with questions or concerns should contact Colleen Levine at colleen@dealer.org.
Softwood Lumber Tariffs Increased
In response to an arbitration panel's finding that Canada failed to correctly adjust quotas from four provinces in the first half of 2007, as required under the Softwood Lumber Agreement, the US Trade Representative's (USTR) office last week announced an additional 10 percent tariff would be imposed on softwood lumber exports from Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. USTR is accepting comments on the appropriateness of this action; comments are due May 11. Please contact Colleen Levine at colleen@dealer.org if you have any feedback NLBMDA should consider in drafting comments.
Senate Committee Drafting Health Care Bill
Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) and Health, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Ted Kennedy (D-MA) recently outlined their plans for advancing major health care overhaul legislation this spring. The two committees are currently working to draft separate bills which will later be combined before a Senate floor vote. Committee markups of the draft bills are targeted for early summer.
Legislative Affairs
Recess Is Over
Members of Congress return to Washington today with a daunting agenda planned between now and the summer breaks. Both the House and the Senate passed FY2010 budget resolutions before the break, which must now be reconciled into a final version. NLBMDA is hopeful that the final resolution will contain the Senate-passed allowance for the estate tax ($5 million exemption and 35 percent rate) but such relief would still have to overcome a likely Senate filibuster with at least 60 votes in support. Both Chambers will be taking up climate legislation with a goal of final passage by the August recess. Card check proponents were active over the spring break but still face a challenge in reaching the 60 votes they need to move forward. NLBMDA and the business community must remain vigilant in informing legislators of the dangers of this legislation, or any so-called compromises, that effectively strip workers of their right to a secret ballot election to determine union representation.
TAKE ACTION: Tell your Representative and Senators to reject card check legislation that would further jeopardize jobs and our economic recovery. Visit Build the Vote and follow the prompts to quickly send an e-mail message today.
Bill Targeting Chinese Drywall Introduced
Senators Ben Nelson (D-FL) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) have taken further steps to address the Chinese drywall investigations currently underway in Florida and other states. Together with Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), they have introduced the "Drywall Safety Act" (S. 793/H.R. 1977) to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to study drywall imported from China in 2004 through 2007 and call for a ban on the import of Chinese drywall and "related materials." Dealers with questions or concerns should contact Colleen Levine at colleen@dealer.org.
Softwood Lumber Tariffs Increased
In response to an arbitration panel's finding that Canada failed to correctly adjust quotas from four provinces in the first half of 2007, as required under the Softwood Lumber Agreement, the US Trade Representative's (USTR) office last week announced an additional 10 percent tariff would be imposed on softwood lumber exports from Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. USTR is accepting comments on the appropriateness of this action; comments are due May 11. Please contact Colleen Levine at colleen@dealer.org if you have any feedback NLBMDA should consider in drafting comments.
Senate Committee Drafting Health Care Bill
Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) and Health, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Ted Kennedy (D-MA) recently outlined their plans for advancing major health care overhaul legislation this spring. The two committees are currently working to draft separate bills which will later be combined before a Senate floor vote. Committee markups of the draft bills are targeted for early summer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
