ISSA and NORMI Praise Bipartisan Effort to Protect Military Families from Hazardous Housing Conditions

The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) and National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors (NORMI) applaud the inclusion of a landmark provision based on the Military Occupancy Living Defense (MOLD) Act in the Senate Armed Services Committee-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2027. The provision, championed by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), establishes enforceable health and safety standards for privatized military housing and represents a significant step forward in protecting the families of those who serve.

For years, military families across the country have endured living conditions in privatized housing that include mold growth, water damage, and elevated humidity levels linked to serious health consequences. A recent survey from Change the Air Foundation found that 97 percent of respondents reported at least one major habitability issue in their military-provided home, with mold cited as the most widespread concern. Prolonged mold exposure has been associated with heightened risks of respiratory illness, neurological symptoms, and developmental delays in children.

The MOLD Act provision included in the FY27 NDAA directly addresses these failures by mandating enforceable health and safety standards, requiring independent inspections, and establishing greater transparency around habitability reporting for issues such as water damage, humidity, and mold. These are professional standards that trained remediators and inspectors have long championed as the baseline for safe indoor living.

“Assessing a home before and after remediation is the best way to ensure a measurable improvement in indoor living conditions,” said D. Douglas Hoffman, Executive Director for NORMI. “NORMI is proud to support the MOLD Act because it reinforces the importance of proper assessment, training, and certification. With qualified professionals and established protocols, we can create cleaner, safer, and healthier indoor environments for the families and individuals who sacrifice so much to protect our homeland.”

“ISSA has long stood for the principle that clean, healthy indoor environments are not a luxury — they are a necessity,” said John Nothdurft, Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for ISSA. “The inclusion of the MOLD Act in the NDAA is a victory for military families and for the industry professionals who work every day to uphold rigorous standards of cleanliness and safety. We commend Senator Blumenthal for his leadership and encourage Congress to pass the NDAA with these provisions.”

NORMI and ISSA are proud endorsers of the MOLD Act alongside a broad coalition of military family and industry organizations. Both associations remain committed to working with Congress to ensure that the men, women, and children who serve and support our nation’s armed forces have access to safe, healthy, and well-maintained housing.