House Dems Call on Biden Administration to Extend Expired Eviction Moratorium Through October
01:55 GMT 02.08.2021 (Updated: 08:57 GMT 15.11.2022)
© AFP 2023 / DREW ANGERER
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The eviction moratorium in the US - an order banning landlords from evicting those failing to pay rent amid the continuing coronavirus pandemic - was imposed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in autumn 2020. It expired on Saturday, raising concerns among Democrats.
US House Democrats, spearheaded by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and other prominent party leaders, on Sunday urged the Biden administration to "immediately" extend the eviction moratorium through 18 October, arguing that it is a "moral imperative" to do so in order to prevent people from being thrown to the streets amid the new Delta variant of the pandemic currently raging in the US.
The joint statement expressed discontent over the Senate being unable to pass an extension of the moratorium, which expired on Saturday.
"Action is needed, and it must come from the Administration. That is why House leadership is calling on the Administration to immediately extend the moratorium", the House joint statement said. "An extension of the moratorium is based on public health and the delta variant."
Pelosi echoed the demands via her Twitter account, questioning why the CDC, while doubling down on masks, would fail to extend the moratorium it declared last autumn.
It is a moral imperative to keep people from being put out in the street which also contributes to the public health emergency.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 1, 2021
The virus is still a threat, the moratorium must be extended and the funds Congress allocated to assist renters and landlords must be spent.
The moratorium expired after its extension was not passed in Congress, despite President Joe Biden earlier urging lawmakers to do so. The failure to extend it prompted concern among many Democrats, including Congresswoman Cori Bush, who initiated a sleepover near the Capitol building, calling on the House to reconvene and pass an extension.
On Sunday, Senator Cori Bush took to Twitter to say that "we're still here", posting a picture from the steps of the Capitol, where she is seen accompanied by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Congressman Jamaal Bowman.
"We have to reconvene the House and vote to reinstate the eviction moratorium to put an end to the eviction emergency. 11 million lives and livelihoods are on the line", Bush captioned the photo.
We’re still here. We have to reconvene the House and vote to reinstate the eviction moratorium to put an end to the eviction emergency.
— Cori Bush (@CoriBush) August 1, 2021
11 million lives and livelihoods are on the line. pic.twitter.com/qUJIebTkSg
The sentiment is not shared by GOP counterparts who have criticized Democrats for acting too late on a moratorium extension, noting that the date of the order's expiration has been known since February.
Pelosi's exhortation prompted some scepticism online, with many raising eyebrows as the House went on a recess, failing to extend the moratorium.
Nancy, you literally just left DC for a six week recess.
— Lindsey Anne All Along (@lindsey_organa) August 1, 2021
This is false. Do not gaslight us.
— Jodi Jacobson 🩸🦷 #BlackLivesMatter (@jljacobson) August 1, 2021
oh ok have a good six week vacation then i guess
— Kath Barbadoro (@kathbarbadoro) August 1, 2021
"relentless campaign" pic.twitter.com/BCyUVjy0Ji
— jack (@jackhaveitall) August 1, 2021
