Barbara Lee

08/01/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/01/2021 21:23

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Calls on White House to Extend Eviction Moratorium

08.01.21

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13), Co-Chair of the Majority Leader's Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity, today released the following statement on the expiration of the national eviction moratorium:

'This pandemic is not over. With the dangerous Delta variant spreading widely, low-income communities - especially Black and Brown communities-are still at risk of losing their homes and ending up on the street. In line with the executive power granted during a public health crisis, the White House and CDC should immediately extend the eviction moratorium.

'In many ways, my district and California have been at the epicenter of America's housing crisis. I spent many years on the Financial Services subcommittee on Housing and Community Development fighting to make housing a human right alongside Chairwoman Maxine Waters and my Progressive Caucus colleagues. This is more crucial now than ever because evictions will not only leave families without a roof over their head, it has the potential to worsen the spread of COVID-19. Individual states should not have to fend for themselves. The Biden administration and the CDC can fix this with the swipe of a pen by extending the moratorium.

'Among the most important responsibilities we hold as elected officials is to protect and advocate for the people who elected us to serve. With the public health crisis reaching yet another inflection point with the spread of the Delta variant, the last thing we can afford to do is allow millions to be at risk of losing their homes by letting the federal eviction moratorium expire.

'Homelessness is a national crisis, and we can no longer allow the federal government to miss the mark solving it. The time to act is now. I strongly urge the Biden administration and the CDC to extend the eviction moratorium. Furthermore, I stand ready to be present in Washington to vote on Congresswoman Waters' legislation to protect families from eviction. There is no excuse.'