According to a special report from the Composite Panel Association, the US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce voted 27-10 on May 26, 2010, to favorably report HR 4805, the “Formaldehyde Standards in Composite Wood Products Act” to the full House for action. The Committee “markup” session, chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), resulted in the passage of amendments to the bill that were negotiated over the past two months and supported by the Composite Panel Association (CPA) and almost all of the other groups tracking this bill.

Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA), a co-sponsor of the bill along with Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI), spoke of its importance to consumer protection and domestic jobs, and to ensuring a level playing field for international trade. She commended CPA and other supporters, and asked that letters provided by industry advocates be included in the record.  See HR 4805 Industry Support Letter, endorsed by CPA, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA), APA-The Engineered Wood Association (APA), Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (BIFMA), and Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA).

“The work of our industry coalition in support of this important bill was critical to its success and I am grateful to my colleagues for their determination to see through some highly challenging negotiations in recent weeks,” said Tom Julia, CPA President. “I also want to thank representatives of the Sierra Club and National Center for Healthy Housing for playing a most constructive role in our discussions with Committee staff. This entire process has been a model of how consensus-based public policymaking should work,” he added.

The Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to HR 4805 passed by the Committee also included an amendment by Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) to change the EPA’s promulgation deadline from January 1, 2012, to January 1, 2013. This amendment was made on page 18 of the substitute bill and CPA was supportive of the change. An amendment on federal pre-emption offered by Ranking Member Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) failed on a voice vote, and no further amendments were offered.

The House bill passed today is expected to be the version soon considered for final action by the US Senate, substituting the version of S 1660 that was reported from a Senate Committee late last year. HR 4805 itself is now poised to go to the House floor for final action, and proponents are hopeful that the House and Senate will ultimately pass the identical version of the bill so a bill can be on President Obama’s desk for signature this summer.

To view final documents related to today’s action, see House Energy and Commerce Committee.