National Mold Program Introduced In House

By Steven Brostoff

Service, June 28, 9:30 a.m. EST,Washington?Legislation creating a national toxic moldinsurance program has been introduced in the House ofRepresentatives.

The legislation, which is drawing a cautious response frominsurance groups, would establish an office within the FederalEmergency Management Agency to administer a federal toxic moldinsurance program similar to the National Flood InsuranceProgram.

The bill, H.R. 5040, also calls for tax credits for inspectionand remediation of mold hazards, mandatory mold inspections formulti-unit residential property, and a research and publiceducation program regarding mold.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., said thattoxic mold is transforming the American Dream of home ownershipinto a nightmare.

"The growth of toxic mold is becoming a problem of monumentalproportions," Rep. Conyers said in a statement. "It is time to stoptoxic mold from robbing Americans of their health and theirhomes."

Insurance groups, however, say that H.R. 5040 is premature, atbest.

Scientists should develop definitive guidelines regarding thehealth effects of mold, mold exposure limits and mold remediationbefore H.R. 5040 advances, said Lynda Mounts, senior counsel forthe Washington-based American Insurance Association.

"Mold has existed since biblical times, yet the multitude ofissues addressed by Rep. Conyers' bill have developed only inrecent years," she said. "Any purported federal legislativesolution must therefore be approached with caution."

David Farmer, senior vice president of federal affairs for theDowners Grove, Ill.-based Alliance of American Insurers, said thelegislation is premature because the scientific community has notarrived at a unified position on the toxicity of various kinds ofmold.

"Unfortunately, the debate so far has generated more controversythan scientific conclusions," Mr. Farmer said.

He said he agrees with Rep. Conyers that more information isneeded on this issue.