Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01) issued the statement below regarding the upcoming expiration of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) federal eviction moratorium through July 31, 2021.

Last month, the lawmakers 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.

“This pandemic is not behind us, and our federal housing policies should reflect that stark reality,” said the lawmakers. “With the United States facing the most severe eviction crisis in its history, our local and state governments still need more time to distribute critical rental assistance to help keep a roof over the heads of our constituents. We urge President Biden to explore every option available to keep the federal eviction moratorium in place for as long as it takes to distribute relief to families most in need during this national emergency."
 
“In total, Congress and the Biden Administration acted to provide $46.5 billion in federal Emergency Rental Assistance, but only a fraction of that – roughly $3 billion – has been disbursed to help families pay rent, utilities, and arrears,” the lawmakers continued. “The impending eviction crisis is entirely preventable, and we must do everything in our power to keep people safely in their homes.”

In January 2021, Congressman Gomez and Congresswoman Pressley led a letter to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris urging them to use executive action to extend and strengthen the national eviction moratorium for the duration of the pandemic.