{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-blumenthal-beatty-introduce-legislation-address-mold-problems", "Courtney, Blumenthal, Beatty Introduce Legislation to Address Mold Problems at Branford Manor, Improve Housing Safety Nationwide", "2023-09-18", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Joe Courtney", "C001069", "courtney.house.gov", "courtney", "https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NORWICH, CT \u2013 Today, in the wake of ongoing mold problems at Branford Manor Apartments in Groton, CT, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) introduced bicameral legislation to improve the health, safety, and habitability of our country\u2019s federally-assisted housing.\n\nThe legislation comes after tenants at Branford Manor, a federally-assisted apartment complex in Groton, CT, cited dangerous and unlivable conditions due to mold. Although the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s (HUD) new inspection regimen, published this year, has prioritized the potential dangers of mold, more federal action is needed to protect the public from mold and other environmental health hazards.\n\nThe Healthy at Home Act of 2023 would hold bad actors accountable, improve tenant education, provide financial support to building owners working to improve building safety, set standards to prevent and detect safety hazards like mold, and more.\n\n\u201cBranford Manor residents, who have endured unsafe conditions, like mold, in their apartments, have petitioned local, state, and federal officials to reform out of date laws that are woefully inadequate. The fact that Branford Manor passed a recent HUD inspection is a powerful example of how the system is broken and screaming out for change. I applaud the Department of Housing and Urban Development for taking critical steps recently to improve tenants\u2019 health and safety at home, but Congressional action is clearly needed. The Healthy at Home Act of 2023 provides structural changes to prevent unhealthy conditions. The strong support from national housing advocates for this measure validates the efforts of Branford Manor tenants that the system needs to change,\u201d said Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02).\n\n\u201cThis important initiative\u2014 inspired by Connecticut\u2019s Branford Manor residents\u2014 will help make homes healthier throughout the nation. Our Healthy at Home Act requires strong standards for preventing, detecting and remediating indoor mold so that no one has to endure intolerable and unhealthy living conditions. An enforceable, effective standard is key to tenant health and safety,\u201d said Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).\n\n\u201cThe Healthy at Home Act of 2023 is a bill that prioritizes safety and mitigates risks for tenants who deserve to live healthy and prosperous day to day lives in their homes,\u201d said Congresswoman Beatty (OH-03), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, which has oversight over housing and urban development. \u201cAccess to safe and affordable housing is the hallmark of the American dream that my constituents across Central Ohio and Americans across the United States should be afforded. This legislation offers the accountability and transparency for states to disclose health and safety concerns, as well as improve the overall housing habitability. I\u2019m proud to support this legislation with my colleagues, Congressman Joe Courtney and Senator Richard Blumenthal.\u201d\n\nFor years, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development worked to change the existing inspection protocols and standards through a rulemaking process. On July 15, the Department announced their final inspection standards which, at Congressman Courtney\u2019s urging, classified mold-like substances as a \u201clife threatening deficiency,\u201d which ensures mold is treated like the serious problem it is during inspections.\n\nEven still, the Healthy at Home Act of 2023 is critical to codifying improved standards for residential buildings to protect against mold and protect residents from health and safety risks.\n\nSpecifically, the bill would:\n\nsupport research and standard-setting on mold and mold mitigation;\n\nprovide federal funding to support building owners as they seek to make the changes needed to improve a building\u2019s safety for tenants;\n\ncreate minimum housing stock quality requirements for federally-assisted housing;\n\ncreate an education campaign for tenants and landlords to reduce health risks; and\n\nincentivize states to disclose health and safety concerns in the building to future residents.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by 22 organizations, including the National Housing Law Project, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American Academy of PAs, the American Lung Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National League of Cities, the Change the Air Foundation, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and the National Center for Healthy Housing.\n\n\u201cThe serious impact of mold and water damage on Americans\u2019 health has been overlooked for too long. Exposure to these unhealthy environments can cause significant physical, emotional, and financial hardship to those living within them. Change the Air Foundation applauds Congressman Courtney and Senator Blumenthal for championing the Healthy at Home Act of 2023, critical indoor air quality legislation that will provide updated research, standard-setting, accountability, financial support, and education for both tenants and building owners. It\u2019s time to put mold on the same playing field as lead, asbestos, and radon and give it the attention it deserves,\u201d said Brandon Chappo, Director of Public Policy, Change the Air Foundation.\n\n\u201cIndoor mold can cause serious respiratory problems for people with mold allergy and allergic asthma,\u201d says Lynda Mitchell, CEO of Allergy & Asthma Network. \u201cMany people are unaware that mold, hidden inside walls or ceilings in their homes, may be the cause of their allergy or asthma symptoms. We are excited to see indoor mold addressed in this important legislation. We support mold education and research in communities and mitigation efforts to reduce mold in homes and apartments, especially those impacted by flooding due to severe weather.\u201d\n\nClick here to read a fact sheet.\n\nClick here to read a section-by-section.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://courtney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/courtney-blumenthal-beatty-introduce-legislation-address-mold-problems"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.592304091900587, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}