Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) joined Congresswoman Cori Bush (MO-01), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and over three dozen colleagues in introducing the Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021 to enact an urgently needed nationwide eviction moratorium.

In direct response to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Biden’s initial eviction moratorium on the grounds that the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) lacked the statutory authority to mandate such a moratorium, the Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021 would clarify that the HHS Secretary does permanently retain the authority to implement an eviction moratorium in the interests of public health.

“The impending eviction crisis is hardly inevitable. It is a policy choice,” said Congressman Jimmy Gomez. “The pandemic continues to devastate communities across the nation, especially low-income and communities of color. Keeping families in their homes, protecting their health and preserving the stability of our communities is the right choice. I urge my colleagues to support the Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021.”

“Housing is a human right, not a bargaining chip to let fall between bureaucratic cracks,” said Congresswoman Cori Bush. “Nearly 40 million Americans have tested positive for COVID-19. Over 670,000 people have died of this virus, and countless are living permanently disabled from its aftereffects. As the Delta variant continues to force individuals to quarantine, close schools, and stifle businesses, we must do all we can to save lives. That starts with keeping every person safely housed. The Keeping Renters Safe of 2021 will save lives and give us more time: time for renters to receive financial assistance, time for the economy to fully recover, and time for the pandemic to finally come to an end. I’m humbled to introduce this critical, actionable legislation with Senator Warren and so many of my colleagues.” 

“This pandemic isn’t over, and we have to do everything we can to protect renters from the harm and trauma of needless eviction, which upends the lives of those struggling to get back on their feet,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “Pushing hundreds of thousands of people out of their homes will only exacerbate this public health crisis, and cause economic harm to families, their communities, and our overall recovery. Congress must pass the Keeping Renters Safe Act of 2021 to put the eviction moratorium back in place and clarify that HHS has the authority to protect renters throughout this public health crisis. Safe housing saves lives.” 

In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling striking down the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) most recent eviction moratorium, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), along with Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Cori Bush (MO-01), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to swiftly pass legislation to extend the federal eviction moratorium – which the lawmakers helped secure earlier this month – for the duration of the pandemic.

In August, Rep. Gomez stood in solidarity with his colleague Congresswoman Cori Bush on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to urge the Administration to act unilaterally to extend this protection — efforts that resulted in a new CDC eviction moratorium.

On July 31, 2021, Rep. Gomez, along with Reps. Pressley, Bush, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Tlaib, Jayapal, and Bowman sent a letter reiterating their ongoing calls for President Biden and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky to extend the federal eviction moratorium and prevent the historic and deadly wave of evictions that would occur if the government fails to do so.

In June, Congressman Gomez, along with Representatives Ayanna Pressley 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.

In March, Congressman Gomez, along with Representatives Pressley, Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and their colleagues, introduced the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act to institute a nationwide cancellation of rents and home mortgage payments through the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.

In January, Reps. Gomez and Pressley led 63 of their colleagues on a letter to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris urging them to immediately prioritize the nation’s housing and homelessness crisis by using executive action to extend and strengthen the national eviction moratorium for the duration of the pandemic.