Politics

Legislation to Protect Consumers and Domestic Manufacturers Is Sent to the President

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – Today, the House of Representatives S. 1660, the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act, a bipartisan bill that was introduced in the Senate by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and in the House as H.R. 4805 by Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA). The legislation would protect the health of American families from the high use of this toxin in common household items, including hundreds of everyday applications, ranging from paneling and flooring, to cabinets, doors, shelving, molding, and countertops.

The use of formaldehyde impacts public health, and can cause difficulty in breathing in some humans exposed at elevated levels, defined as above 0.1 parts per million. The wood products industry along with environmental, health, and labor organizations worked for more than seven years with the State of California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) to establish lower standards for formaldehyde in composite wood products. The phase-in of these new standards is estimated to cut formaldehyde emissions for composite wood products in half to an average of 0.09 parts per million by 2012. Composite wood products are defined as particleboard, medium density fiberboard and hardwood plywood; products made from pieces, chips, particles, fibers or veneers bonded together with a resin.

Responds to Feedback from Sacramento Small Businesses That Access to Credit is Critical to Our Community’s Economic Recovery

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento) voted to help small businesses grow and thrive by expanding lending and providing tax incentives. The Congresswoman lent her support to two bills that passed the House this week: H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act, and H.R. 5486, the Small Business Jobs Tax Relief Act.

“These two pieces of legislation will provide small businesses with much-needed relief and support during these difficult economic times,” said Rep. Matsui. “Two-thirds of new jobs created during the past fifteen years came from small businesses, and if they are not able to obtain loans to grow, or invest in their business, then our economy will suffer a prolonged recovery.”

By Mara Lee

WASHINGTON, D.C. (OBSNews.com) – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) participated in the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Environment hearing on “Drilling Down on America’s Energy Future: Safety, Security and Clean Energy.” In the hearing, Rep. Matsui emphasized that BP must be held fully accountable for the spill, and that their first priority must be to stop the leak from continuing to spread, and to ensure that the clean-up efforts are carried out to protect our coastal communities and the families whose livelihoods depend on them. But Matsui also said that it is incumbent upon all of us to make certain this never happens again – and the way to do that is to reduce America’s dependence on oil. Rep. Matsui’s opening statement, as prepared for delivery, is below:

H.R. 3360 Will Increase Safety for Cruise Ship Passengers

By Mara Lee

SACRAMENTO (OBSNews.com) – Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation authored by Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) in the House of Representatives and championed by Senator John F. Kerry in the Senate. H.R. 3360, the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act, which was passed with bipartisan support in the House last November, is a critical and common-sense fix which will provide safety and security to Americans who go on cruise vacations without realizing they are not protected under U.S. laws when they leave its territorial waters.

“H.R. 3360 will improve the safety and security of all cruise ship passengers traveling in and out U.S. waters,” said Rep. Matsui. “Current law doesn’t pass the test of providing common-sense security measures to the travelling public to help protect them from crimes committed aboard ships or to adequately prevent individuals from going overboard. Moreover, current law does not provide the support victims and their families need in the event of a disaster. This legislation is critical to providing the security and safety measures that all Americans need and deserve, no matter if they are on land or at sea.”