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WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) joined House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and their House colleagues in introducing H.R. 4791, the Protecting Renters from Evictions Act of 2021, legislation to extend the eviction moratorium (scheduled to end Saturday, July 31st) through the end of the year.
Congresswoman Pressley is working with her colleagues to secure a vote on this legislation in the House of Representatives before the eviction moratorium expires tomorrow.
Last month, Rep. Pressley, along with Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) and Cori Bush (MO-01), led over 40 of their colleagues on a letter urging President Biden and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky to extend and strengthen the moratorium for the duration of the public health crisis.
“The impending eviction crisis is entirely preventable, and as lawmakers we must do everything we can to keep people safely in their homes,” said Rep. Pressley. “This bill will help our most vulnerable families keep a roof over their heads while states and local governments continue to disburse the federal Emergency Rental Assistance provided by Congress. With the CDC’s moratorium expiring in less than 24 hours, we must move with the urgency this moment deserves. I’m grateful to Chairwoman Waters for her leadership and proud to join her in introducing this important legislation. I urge Congress to pass this bill without delay.”
National Equity Atlas estimates 6.398 million households are currently behind on rent, including over 103,000 households in Massachusetts, 64 percent of whom are people of color. In Suffolk county alone, an estimated 13.5% of renter households owe back rent. Additionally, according to self-reported data in a recent US Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey, approximately 3.650 million renter-occupied housing units that are not current on rental payments are very likely or somewhat likely to be evicted in the next two months.
From the onset of the pandemic, Congresswoman Pressley has fought tirelessly to provide robust housing protections for families in Massachusetts and across the nation.
- On March 18, 2020, Reps. Pressley, Katie Porter (D-CA) and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) wrote to HUD calling for a moratorium on evicting renters during the coronavirus pandemic.
- On March 19, 2020, Rep. Pressley, along with progressive lawmakers and organizations, introduced the Housing is a Human Right Act to authorize more than $200 billion in federal spending over 10 years for crucial housing infrastructure and reduce homelessness.
- On March 23, 2020, Reps. Pressley and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced the Public Health Emergency Shelter Act of 2020, legislation to provide critical funding to states and local governments responding to the needs of families and individuals experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis. This legislation was included and passed through the HEROES Act and H.R. 7301, the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020.
- On April 10, 2020, Rep. Pressley urged Congressional leadership to prioritize recurring monthly cash payments to those most at-risk during the COVID-19 crisis. This funding would allow people to cover all their bills, including rent.
- On April 17, 2020, Reps. Pressley, Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and colleagues introduce the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, a bill to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.
- On May 11, 2020, Reps. Tlaib, and Joe Neguse (D-CO) urged House and Senate leadership to include $11.5 billion in funding for Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) in the next relief package to aid the nation’s homeless population who are experiencing heightened vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- On July 24, 2020, in a Financial Services Committee hearing, Rep. Pressley discussed the unprecedented financial cliff facing millions of renters and homeowners, the economic consequences of millions losing their homes, including the ability to return to work, and why funding for legal representation is so critical.
- On July 28, 2020, Rep. Pressley, Rep. DeLauro and Sen. Harris introduced the Housing Emergencies Lifeline Program (HELP) Act to provide much-needed, layered assistance to those facing eviction amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
- On May 18, 2021, Reps. Bush and Pressley sent a letter to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calling on the CDC to strengthen and extend the federal moratorium on evictions, ensuring families can remain safely in their homes for the duration of the COVID-19 global health emergency.
- In June 2021, Congresswoman Pressley, along with Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), re-introduced the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, a bill to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.
