Energy and Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Matsui Bill Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Helps Protect American Consumers
• This morning, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D • Sacramento) participated in the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Trade & Consumer Protection hearing focused on hearing on H.R. 1796, the Residential Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act, and H.R. 4805, the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act. Congresswoman Matsui introduced H.R. 4805 earlier this month and delivered the following statement at the hearing this morning:
• The legislative proposals being discussed would help industry achieve consistent standards of compliance, create jobs, protect public health, boost consumer confidence, and reduce harmful emissions. It is for these reasons that Congressman Matheson is to be applauded for sponsoring H.R. 1796, which would require the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to enforce stronger standards to protect people nationwide against the deadly dangers of carbon monoxide.
• As we continue to discuss ways in which certain products impact American consumers, it is critical that the federal government adopts approaches that are stimulative, effective, innovative, and efficient. It is equally important, however, that we ensure that our nation follows best practices and adheres to the toughest production standards in the world.
• Toward that end, I have partnered with Congressman Ehlers to introduce H.R. 4805, which would establish national standards for formaldehyde in domestic and imported composite wood products. The emissions of formaldehyde, which is a chemical widely used in a variety of composite wood product applications are known to have adverse effects on human health and resulted in cases of toxicity for those storm victims provided FEMA trailers following Hurricane Katrina.
• H.R. 4805 would apply the rule recently adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in collaboration with industry, regulatory authorities, and public interest groups to lower limits for formaldehyde emissions in most composite wood products. In doing so, the bill would direct the EPA to accept a standard that is already being practiced by our domestic industries and ensure that ongoing economic recovery efforts continue.
• I would urge my colleagues to favorably consider this bipartisan, bicameral legislation which is publicly endorsedby industry, environmentalists, labor, and health care advocates. And, I commend Senators Klobuchar and Crapo for authoring the Senate counterpart, and for their leadership on this important issue.•
