Dear Friends and Healthy Indoor Air Advocates,

As we head into another fall season, we’re proud to share significant progress from the past year. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our community, volunteers, and partners, Change the Air Foundation is making an impact at the federal, state, and international levels to push stronger protections for those affected by mold, water damage, and poor indoor air.

Federal Advocacy & Military Protections

One of our top policy goals continues to be advancing protections for military families, who are often on the front lines of mold and water damage issues in privatized military housing on bases. This year, we returned to Washington, D.C. multiple times to press for reforms in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual law passed by the U.S. Congress that outlines the budget and expenditures for the Department of War.

Thanks to these efforts, and to the power of our fearless and passionate military family volunteers, key mold‑protection provisions have now been added to both the House and Senate NDAA bills.

• In the House NDAA, the Bergman Amendment would require the Secretaries of all military departments to adopt uniform mold remediation guidelines for military housing and facilities consistent with the ANSI/IICRC S520 standard, the industry-recognized “gold standard” for mold remediation.
• In the Senate NDAA, Section 2824 (the “Healthy at Home on Base Act”) includes provisions for health-based protections, and greater oversight, transparency, and accountability in how the Department of War handles mold prevention, mitigation, and new construction.
• Also in the Senate version, an amendment we pushed for would curtail the use of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) so that families living in unsafe housing can speak openly about problems without fear of retaliation.

These inclusion steps are not yet law, but they reflect that our collective advocacy is having a real impact on Capitol Hill.

Over the course of 2025, we have met with more than 60 congressional offices, bringing the lived experience of affected families to the table and pressing for stronger standards, accountability, and protections.

Military spouses Erica Thompson and Jackie Talarico, joined by their children, met with lawmakers to advocate for safer housing conditions for military families.

State-Level Momentum

While we build pressure at the federal level, our state-level work continues to expand: 

• As of fall 2025, we have supported the drafting and introduction of 12 legislative proposals across eight states aimed at strengthening mold, water damage, and indoor air policies. We also passed our first bill into law in Illinois in 2024, the Mold Remediation Registration Act.

To date, we have been active in 23 different states, working with advocates, legislators, public health officials, and community members to advocate for meaningful policy reform.

We are seeing early wins, growing relationships in state capitols, and critically, keeping the attention of state policymakers and staff on how mold and water damage can seriously affect public health.

Convening & Networking: Key Events

National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Boston, MA

Earlier this year, we joined the NCSL annual meeting in Boston. This was a strategic decision, given NCSL draws legislators, legislative staff, and advocacy organizations from across the country. Our presence there allowed us to:

• Elevate mold and water damage awareness onto the radar of state leaders across multiple states. 
• Share best practices and model policies with staffers and lawmakers.
• Build partnerships with allied organizations tackling housing, health, and environmental policy.

Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air & UN High-Level Event, New York, NY

In September 2025, Change the Air Foundation deepened our global footprint by joining the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air, a coalition of experts and organizations committed to healthy indoor environments.

We attended the first-ever High-Level Event on Global Healthy Indoor Air at the United Nations in New York City—a landmark moment in raising indoor air quality to an international priority. Building global awareness helps amplify our message at home, placing mold, water damage, and indoor air health into broader conversations about climate resilience, public health, and building standards.

International Code Council Conference, Cleveland, OH

We also participated in the International Code Council (ICC) Conference in Cleveland in October 2025. This gathering of building code officials, architects, engineers, and construction professionals is essential for influencing the technical ground rules that guide building practices.

By networking there, we worked to:

• Promote building codes and practices that reduce water intrusion and dampness.
• Engage code adopters and industry voices in conversations about mold growth, moisture management, and design strategies.
• Ensure that future building standards better anticipate and mitigate water-related risks.

Looking Forward

Change the Air Foundation is more than an advocacy nonprofit—we are a movement. Every meeting in Congress, every state bill proposed, and every conversation at a conference helps establish our presence in policy and advocacy networks across the country and around the world.

As we move toward year’s end, our priorities include:

• Securing final passage of mold and housing protections in the NDAA.
• Building further momentum for state bills in additional states.
• Leveraging our global connections to influence policy and standards.
• Expanding our network of advocates, experts, and impacted voices.

Thank you to our community and supporters for your continued trust, partnership, and passion. Together, we are turning the tide on mold, water damage, and unhealthy indoor environments.

In health and change,

Brandon Chappo

Director of Public Policy, Change the Air Foundation