Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)
Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) were joined by Reps. James Moylan (R-GU) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tim Sheehy (R-MN), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Richard Shelby (R-AL) in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral, Military Occupancy Living Defense (MOLD) Act. This bill would strengthen protections for over 700,000 servicemembers and their families across the country living in privatized military housing.
An estimated 700,000 servicemembers and their families are affected by hazardous conditions in military-provided housing, including prolonged mold exposure, which is associated with elevated risks of respiratory illnesses, neurological symptoms, developmental delays in children, and other severe health effects. The MOLD Act addresses these conditions by setting enforceable health and safety standards, mandating independent inspections, and requiring transparency in reporting habitability issues such as water damage, humidity, and mold.
“In their service, our military members and their families sacrifice a great deal. The last thing they should have to deal with is shoddy conditions, including mold, in their military housing,” said Rep. Panetta. “The MOLD Act will help ensure that privatized military housing is up to standard with frequent inspections, proper repairs and renditions, and better response times by landlords. This legislation is our way to ensure that military readiness starts at home.”
“This measure will help ensure that military families are protected from housing that endangers their health. They deserve the gold standard, nothing less,” said Sen. Blumenthal. “The MOLD Act will require strict health and safety standards, independent inspections, and financial accountability for contractors. This bipartisan, bicameral reform deserves quick passage so servicemembers and their families have a safe place to call home.”
“Our servicemembers and their families should never have to choose between serving their country and living in safe, healthy homes,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “Military families at MacDill and across the country have faced unsafe housing conditions, including mold and other hazards, with too little accountability. This legislation addresses those failures by setting enforceable health and safety standards, requiring independent inspections, and increasing transparency. It’s about accountability, dignity, and keeping our promise to military families-no one who serves our nation should be forced to worry about their family living in unhealthy conditions.”
“For too long, military families have been forced to live with mold, moisture, and unresolved health hazards in housing they were promised would be safe,” said Rep. Moylan. “The MOLD Act finally establishes enforceable standards, independent inspections, and real accountability for contractors who fail our servicemembers. Living in a Pacific region where extreme weather and humidity are a constant reality, I know these risks cannot be ignored. I’m proud to work with Congressman Jimmy Panetta to ensure military families, whether in Guam or across the mainland—have strong protections, clear reporting tools, and a Department of Defense that is fully accountable to the people it serves.”
“After volunteering to serve our great nation, America’s military deserves the best — from equipment on the battlefield to housing here at home,” said Sen. Sheehy. “As a veteran who is married to a veteran, it’s an honor to serve our community each day in the Senate. I’m proud to lead this critical piece of legislation to bring accountability to the process of ensuring our men and women in uniform and their families have housing conditions and can focus on securing America’s future.”
“For too long, thousands of military families residing in privatized military housing have suffered the consequences of unsafe and unsanitary living conditions,” said Sen. Hirono. “From widespread mold to rat infestations, these atrocious living environments have caused severe health concerns for our military families and have forced them to bear the financial burden of repairs. Ensuring servicemembers and their families have safe and habitable housing is not just our responsibility, but critical for military readiness and morale. I am proud to introduce the MOLD Act to hold housing contractors accountable for addressing these issues and to better protect our military families.”
The MOLD Act addresses these concerns by:
- Requiring the Pentagon to issue humidity and ventilation standards within 1 year, and releasing test results to tenants within 10 days.
- Requiring inspections at move-in and move-out dates, after complaints, and after repairs. Inspections must be by certified third-party professionals. Failed units must be remediated or tenants relocated within 30 days.
- Establishing a complaint hotline for 24/7 reporting, and requiring a landlord response within 5 business days.
The MOLD Act is endorsed by Change the Air Foundation, Blue Star Families, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Safe Military Housing Initiative, Military Housing Coalition, National Military Families Association, Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), and the National Organization of Remediators and Microbial Inspectors (NORMI).
“This is a historic moment for military families. Thanks to Senator Blumenthal and the other Congressional sponsors, the bipartisan Military Occupancy Living Defense (MOLD) Act is an immediate response to a crisis that in this generation has simultaneously harmed military families’ health, degraded mission readiness, and weakened the future force. For too long, unsafe housing conditions, particularly mold and water damage, have gone unaddressed, leaving families unprotected due to a lack of transparency and accountability. The MOLD Act finally treats unsafe housing as the serious public health and military readiness issue it is. Change the Air Foundation is proud to support this legislation because it puts military families first, strengthens military readiness, and affirms that no one who serves our country should be asked to sacrifice their health or their family’s well-being because of where they live,” said Brandon Chappo, Director of Public Policy, Change the Air Foundation.
“Military families deserve safe, healthy homes — period. Blue Star Families supports the MOLD Act, a bipartisan effort to protect service members and their families from mold and unsafe conditions in privatized military housing. By establishing mandatory standards, independent inspections, and contractor accountability, this legislation takes an important step toward ensuring safe living environments. This isn’t just a housing or quality-of-life issue — it’s a readiness issue and a basic obligation to our nation’s military service members and their families,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families.
“Accountability is essential when neglect and inadequate maintenance result in hazardous military housing conditions. Service members and their families should not have to sacrifice their health or well-being due to substandard housing,” said MOAA President & CEO Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, USAF (Ret).
“A safe home is a matter of basic human decency. But too many military families are living with mold and other hazards that threaten their health, often with no real recourse. The MOLD Act establishes clear standards and accountability so families can count on safe, healthy homes. We’re grateful to Senators Blumenthal and Sheehy and Representatives Wittman and Panetta for standing up for military families,” said Besa Pinchotti, CEO, National Military Family Association.
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