Chinese Drywall

The first congressional hearings on Chinese drywall will be held on Capitol Hill next week.

The Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety and Insurance plans to meet at 10:30 a.m. on May 21.

The committee will investigate health and product safety issues associated with the drywall.

High-sulfur Chinese drywall has been blamed for fumes that cause an odor of rotten eggs, metal corrosion and alleged health problems in thousands of homes, mostly in the Southeast, and especially in Florida.

The growing product liability crisis has spawned federal and state lawsuits, including individual actions and class actions. The Florida Department of Health is tracking 365 reported complaints and investigating. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is also investigating.