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House Republicans Block Emergency Legislation by Chairwoman Waters to Extend Federal Eviction Moratorium
Due to Republican Objections, Thousands of Families and Children Now at Risk of Eviction
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, released a statement following Republican objections to the Majority Leader’s unanimous consent request to take up her bill, H.R. 4791, the “Protecting Renters from Evictions Act of 2021,” which would extend the federal eviction moratorium through the end of the year.
“The eviction moratorium ends tomorrow at midnight. That means that millions of families and children could devastatingly lose the roof over their heads at a time when this deadly pandemic is surging once again. Throughout the last 24 hours, I worked with House leadership to respond to President Biden’s unexpected lack of effort and refusal to use his authority to extend the moratorium on evictions. At the very last minute, the Biden Administration indicated that it would be up to the Congress to protect struggling renters and prevent a wave of evictions.
“While I wished that the circumstances were different, I rose to the occasion and swiftly introduced H.R. 4791, the “Protecting Renters from Evictions Act,” to keep families in their homes until December 31, 2021. With the tens of billions of dollars in emergency rental assistance that Congress provided waiting to be distributed to renters and landlords, an extension of the moratorium until the end of the year would have given support and reprieve to families teetering on the brink of homelessness..."
Click here to read her statement.
Click here to read her press release on the introduction of her legislation.
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Extend the Eviction Moratorium
Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) introduced Legislation to extend the eviction moratorium beyond the July 31, 2021 deadline. For bill text click here.
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Housing is Infrastructure Legislative Package
The legislative housing package led by Congresswoman Maxine Waters includes:
- The Housing is Infrastructure Act of 2021 would provide a historic investment of over $600 billion in equitable, affordable, and accessible housing infrastructure. This generational investment would address our national eviction and homelessness crises, increase access to homeownership, and support a robust recovery from the pandemic by creating jobs, addressing climate change, and improving housing stability for struggling households. Click here for bill text.
- The Ending Homelessness Act of 2021 would end homelessness and significantly reduce poverty in America by transforming the Housing Choice Voucher program into a federal entitlement, so that every household who qualifies for assistance would receive it. The lead cosponsors of this bill are Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY). Click here for bill text.
- The Downpayment Toward Equity Act of 2021 would help address the U.S. racial wealth and homeownership gaps by providing $100 billion toward downpayment and other financial assistance for first-generation homebuyers to purchase their first home. The lead cosponsors of this bill are Representative Al Green (D-TX), Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Representative Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL), Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA), and Representative Sylvia Garcia (D-TX). Click here for bill text.
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Subcommittee Hearings
Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy - The Promises and Perils of Central Bank Digital Currencies
Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance - NAHASDA Reauthorization: Addressing Historic Disinvestment and the Ongoing Plight of the Freedmen in Native American Communities
Tweets of the Week
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Member Spotlight
| Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) |
Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), serves as the Chair of Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship and Capital Markets. He also serves on the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions, the Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance, and the Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. This week, the Committee on Financial Services passed Congressman Sherman’s legislation the Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act of 2021 (H.R. 4616) and the Over Flow Improvement Act (H.R. 4617).
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Weekend Reads
Committee Passes Legislation to Advance Investor Protections, Support Manufactured Housing Communities, and Promote De Novo Depository Institutions
The House Financial Services Committee passed eleven bills to protect investors and reduce conflicts of interest born out of payment for order flow, support manufactured housing communities, fight for everyone’s right to vote, promote de novo depository institutions, and strengthen protections for the LIBOR transition.
The following bills passed the Committee en bloc #1 by a vote of 28-23.
- Manufactured Housing Community Preservation Act of 2021 (H.R. 3332), a bill by Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA).
- Voters on the Move Registration Act of 2021 (H.R. 3555), a bill by Representative Nikema Williams (D-GA).
The following bills passed the Committee en bloc #2 by a vote of 27-22.
- Short Sale Transparency and Market Fairness Act (H.R. 4618), a bill by Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA).
- To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to prohibit trading ahead by market makers, and for other purposes (H.R. 4619), a bill by Representative Al Green (D-TX).
- Family Office Regulation Act of 2021 (H.R. 4620), a bill by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
The bills passed by the Committee included:
- Promoting New and Diverse Depository Institutions Act (H.R. 4590), a bill by Representative Jake Auchincloss (D-MA).
The bill passed the Committee by a voice vote.
- The Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act of 2021 (H.R. 4616), a bill by Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA).
The bill passed the Committee by a voice vote.
- Order Flow Improvement Act (H.R. 4617), a bill by Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA).
The bill passed the Committee by a vote of 28-22.
- Trading Isn't A Game Act (H.R. 4685), a bill by Representative Sean Casten (D-IL).
The bill passed the Committee by a vote of 28-23.
- Small Business Mergers, Acquisitions, Sales, and Brokerage Simplification Act of 2021 (H.R. 935), a bill by Representative Bill Huizenga (R-MI).
The bill passed the Committee by a voice vote.
- Financial Exploitation Prevention Act of 2021 (H.R. 2265), a bill by Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO).
The bill passed the Committee by a voice vote.
Click here to read the full press release.
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Waters on NAHASDA Reauthorization: This Fight Is About Fairness and Equality
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, gave the following statement at a Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance hearing entitled, “NAHASDA Reauthorization: Addressing Historic Disinvestment and the Ongoing Plight of the Freedmen in Native American Communities.”
Thank you, Chairman Cleaver, for convening this important hearing.
Unequal access to housing sits at the heart of many racial and economic injustices across the country, including among Native American communities. The legacy of land and cultural dispossession has contributed to Native people experiencing, of course, high levels of chronic homelessness, over-crowding, and poor housing conditions.
We also know that a key determinant of housing access on reservations is tribal citizenship, which is one of the barriers faced by descendants of Black Native American Freedmen today.
Many remain unaware of the ongoing plight of the descendants of Freedmen whose ancestors were held as enslaved people by five slave-holding tribes, including the Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Muscogee Creek, and Seminole. Today, under their 1866 treaty agreements with the U.S. government, these tribes must recognize descendants of Freedmen as tribal citizens and guarantee equal access to federal housing resources.
Click here to read the full opening statement.
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Chairwoman’s Corner
Chairwoman Waters Meets with Secretary Yellen, Discusses Implementation of Rental Assistance
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, met with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to discuss a variety of important issues including the implementation of emergency rental assistance.
“This morning, I met with Secretary Yellen to discuss my priorities and the many ways in which we can work together to ensure that our country is on a path to an equitable and just recovery,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters. “After securing $46.6 billion in emergency rental assistance to provide relief to families in need, I am focused on making sure that this money is distributed and implemented correctly. As this pandemic crisis continues to impact communities across this country, it is critical that we efficiently and effectively use each of the tools at our disposal to keep people housed, support struggling families, and strengthen our economy. I look forward to continuing my work with Secretary Yellen.”
Pictured from left to right: Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Congresswoman Maxine Waters
Congresswoman Maxine Waters played an integral role in crafting pandemic relief legislation including the CARES Act, the December Coronavirus Relief Package, and the American Rescue Plan. Congresswoman Waters secured over $47 billion in assistance to renters, including emergency rental assistance, $10 billion in direct assistance to homeowners, $5 billion for emergency housing vouchers targeted to people at risk of experiencing homelessness, and $5 billion to enable state and local governments to finance supportive services and affordable housing.
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