Washington, D.C.— With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eviction moratorium set to expire tomorrow, July 31, U.S. Representative Andy Barr (KY-06) blasted the Biden Administration and House Democrats for failing to deliver emergency rental assistance (ERA) to millions of distressed renters and landlords. 

Less than 10% of the $46 billion in ERA funds Congress appropriated since December has been delivered to renters.  Today, House Democrats blocked a vote on legislation Rep. Barr is leading that requires the Biden Administration to deliver remaining ERA funds to renters within a 30-day period.

“Millions of Americans face eviction across the U.S. because of the Biden Administration’s total failure to deliver emergency rental assistance Congress appropriated over six months ago,” said Representative Barr.  

“Today, House Democrats blocked legislation that I am leading in the House to require the Administration to distribute emergency rental assistance to renters within a 30-day period.  Congress should use its legislative authority to direct the Administration to get its act together and get this money out the door,” Barr concluded.

The National Apartment Association estimates more than 10 million Americans are delinquent on rent and apartment owners are owed $57 billion in unpaid rent.  Rep. Barr is a cosponsor of the Renter Protection Act in the House to fix the ERA disaster and avoid the mass eviction nightmare scenario.  House Democrats blocked passage of this bill today.  The Renter Protection Act would:

  • Transfer all remaining March 2021 ERA program funds, which the U.S. Department of Treasury has still failed to allocate to cities and states, into the original, bipartisan December 2020 ERA program and requires Treasury to disburse the funds within 30 days.
  • Require that cities and states with any unused ERA money after July 1st use those funds exclusively to pay off the back-rent debts of COVID-impacted eligible households, as Congress originally intended.
  • Reinstate the original December 31, 2021 deadline for cities and states to distribute all ERA funds to COVID-impacted eligible households to make sure this assistance immediately benefits individuals with back-rent due to the pandemic.
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