In a letter to the U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) expresses concerns with H.R. 4212, the Contaminated Drywall Safety Act of 2012, which is designed to prevent unsafe drywall being used in the U.S. While NAHB praises the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for seeking the source of the drywall problem, the 140,000 home builder member organization has not had the opportunity to evaluate the legislation. In addition, NAHB is concerned the legislation might set a precedent wherein the CPSC may develop standards on the use of any materials without going through the public comment phase. As MHProNews has learned, the shortage of drywall following Hurricane Katrina led to the importation of Chinese drywall that sickened many residents in homes where the drywall was used. Numerous lawsuits resulted in millions of dollars in settlements, especially in Florida and Louisiana.

(Image credit: National Association of Home Builders)