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HR 4212 112th Congress House

Drywall Safety Act of 2012

Official title: To prevent the introduction into commerce of unsafe drywall, to ensure the manufacturer of drywall is readily identifiable, to ensure that problematic drywall … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To prevent the introduction into commerce of unsafe drywall, to ensure the manufacturer of drywall is readily identifiable, to ensure that problematic drywall removed from homes is not reused, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 22, 2012 See on congress.gov
Commerce Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAsiaBuilding constructionChina
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Civil actions and liabilityConsumer Product Safety CommissionHazardous wastes and toxic substancesJurisdiction and venueMaterialsProduct safety and qualityResidential rehabilitation and home repairTrade restrictions
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 Everywhere this bill has been 26 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 14, 2013
Became Public Law No: 112-266.
Jan 14, 2013
Signed by President.
Jan 3, 2013
Presented to President.
Jan 1, 2013
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jan 1, 2013
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)
Jan 1, 2013
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7530-7531)
Dec 30, 2012
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 The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
Dec 30, 2012
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.
Dec 30, 2012
Mr. Terry moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H7448-7450)
Dec 27, 2012
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Dec 21, 2012
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 21, 2012
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Dec 21, 2012
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8377-8378)
Dec 21, 2012
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Sep 20, 2012
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sep 19, 2012
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Sep 19, 2012
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 19, 2012
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6134-6135)
Sep 19, 2012
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)
Sep 19, 2012
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4212.
Sep 19, 2012
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6134-6137)
Sep 19, 2012
Mrs. Bono Mack moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
May 7, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.
May 7, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Mar 19, 2012
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.
Mar 19, 2012
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Jan 1, 2013 House · vote #657 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Concur in the Senate Amendment Passed 378–37 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 3,432 – In the nature of a substitute. Agreed to Dec 21, 2012
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 Latest action January 14, 2013

Became Public Law No: 112-266.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(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 "Remediation Guidance for Homes with Corrosion from Problem Drywall" to specify that problematic drywall removed pursuant to the guidance should not be reused or used as a component in production of new drywall.

 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 13
All 13 Democratic 5 Republican 4
BACHUS, SPENCER
· Sep 19, 2012
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Aug 3, 2012
 R
Griffith, H. Morgan
Virginia · Aug 2, 2012
Bonner, Jo
· May 8, 2012
 D
Castor, Kathy
Florida · Apr 27, 2012
Ross, Dennis
· Mar 22, 2012
 D
Wilson, Frederica S.
Florida · Mar 22, 2012
 R
Buchanan, Vern
Florida · Mar 19, 2012
 R
Diaz-Balart, Mario
Florida · Mar 19, 2012
Forbes, J.
· Mar 19, 2012
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · Mar 19, 2012
 D
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Florida · Mar 19, 2012
 R
Wittman, Robert J.
Virginia · Mar 19, 2012
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4212: Drywall Safety Act of 2012. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4212/
MLA
"H.R. 4212: Drywall Safety Act of 2012." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4212/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4212, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4212/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4212: Drywall Safety Act of 2012](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-4212/)
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