Whether you live in the suburbs, the inner city, or in rural areas, the new environmental crisis of the 21^st century is toxic mold. It is one of the fastest growing environmental health epidemics in the country. Toxic mold grows in homes, apartments, and buildings and is caused from water leaks on surfaces. There have been hundreds of thousands of toxic mold victims in the United States. It can cause severe and debilitating health impacts and millions of dollars in property damage. In order to substantively address this crisis, Rep. Conyers has introduced landmark legislation, H.R. 1268, "The United States Toxic Mold Safety & Protection Act."

Black mold is the most dangerous of the mold strains. If "Micotoxins," the spores released into the air from black mold, is inhaled by humans, they can cause debilitating health problems that include memory loss, severe allergies, lethargy, chronic pain, headaches, and other serious health problems.

Toxic mold has caused millions of dollars in property loss, bankrupted families, made families homeless, caused hundreds of thousands of school children to become sick, or permanently disabled adults.

Unfortunately; neither local, city, or the federal government has established guidelines to protect the public from toxic mold, nor does the federal government have programs to help victims of toxic mold with cleaning it up, obtaining health care, finding new housing, and being provided other living necessities after a family or individual have been victims of toxic mold.

Furthermore, most homeowners insurance policies will not cover damages to one's home due to toxic mold infestation. It often costs thousands of dollars to remediate, or clean up toxic mold in buildings and homes-unaffordable for the majority of toxic mold victims. Homeowners are often forced to vacate the premises for this reason, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost assets, and lost dreams.