Florida Senate - 2009                            (NP)    SR 2824
       
       
       
       By Senators Bennett and Aronberg
       
       
       
       
       21-06872-09                                           20092824__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution urging the Congress of the United States
    3         to direct the Environmental Protection Agency to
    4         provide federal resources to the Florida Department of
    5         Health for the purpose of assessing the impact of
    6         imported drywall on human health and public safety.
    7  
    8         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate specifically recognizes that
    9  Florida consumers should be protected from inferior building
   10  products, including imported drywall, containing potentially
   11  hazardous materials that may affect one’s health resulting from
   12  exposure to chemicals or compounds found in imported drywall,
   13  and
   14         WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Health is currently
   15  identifying and assessing potential human health hazards related
   16  to the rapid and recurring corrosion of metals inside homes, and
   17         WHEREAS, this phenomenon is suspected to be associated with
   18  the presence of imported drywall in homes built since 2003, and
   19         WHEREAS, at least one study found distinct differences
   20  between drywall manufactured in the United States and that
   21  manufactured in China, and that the imported drywall contained
   22  traces of strontium sulfide inclusions, contained more organic
   23  materials than the domestic drywall, and was found to release
   24  sulfur compounds and noticeable odor after exposure to moisture,
   25  and
   26         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate encourages the Florida
   27  Department of Health to work with the Environmental Protection
   28  Agency in researching whether imported drywall may cause health
   29  hazard concerns, and
   30         WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Florida Senate that the
   31  Florida Department of Health quantify the use of defective
   32  drywall in Florida homes and potential health and safety
   33  concerns for occupants and structures; determine whether public
   34  health and home safety issues are present through laboratory
   35  testing and health survey data; and develop a comprehensive
   36  response to address the full range of concerns raised by Florida
   37  residents living in homes constructed with this drywall, and
   38         WHEREAS, the Florida Senate intends that the Florida
   39  Building Commission develop comprehensive consumer protection
   40  and mitigation strategies and provide guidance for the
   41  remediation and repair of homes containing imported drywall,
   42  NOW, THEREFORE,
   43  
   44  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   45  
   46         That the Congress of the United States is requested to
   47  direct the Environmental Protection Agency to provide assistance
   48  and support the Florida Department of Health in accessing
   49  federal resources to assess the impact of imported drywall on
   50  human health and public safety.
   51         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be
   52  dispatched to the President of the United States, the President
   53  of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States
   54  House of Representatives, and to each member of the Florida
   55  delegation to the United States Congress.