Washington – Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10), the top Republican on the Financial Services Committee, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Biden Administration’s unconstitutional federal eviction moratorium:
“No one should be surprised by this decision. Republicans knew months ago the CDC had exceeded its authority. The blame for this entire situation rests squarely with the Biden Administration and Congressional Democrats. Instead of fixing the flawed Emergency Rental Assistance program to provide support to families in need, the Biden Administration extended its unconstitutional eviction moratorium. This shortsighted move did absolutely nothing to help renters or address the Administration’s mismanagement of $46 billion in aid, nearly 90 percent of which has yet to be distributed.
“There is a simple solution—Republicans’ Renter Protection Act, which would get money into the hands of renters now. Instead of taking up this bill, Democrats fixated on political stunts and strong-arming their progressive agenda through Congress. Now the Supreme Court has spoken, and Democrats must live with the consequences of their inaction.”
Background:
On May 18, 2021, Republican Leader McHenry sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Yellen asking for data on how much ERA money has reached renters and landlords.
At a June 9, 2021 hearing on housing issues Republican Leader McHenry called out the Biden Administration for their gross mismanagement of the ERA programs.
On June 15, 2021 Republican Leader McHenry sent a letter to the GAO asking them to audit the ERA programs.
On June 16, 2021 all Committee Republicans introduced H.R. 3913, the Renter Protection Act, to fix the Biden Administration’s mismanagement of the ERA programs, get the money out the door quickly, and keep Americans in their homes.
On June 25, 2021, Republican Leader McHenry and French Hill (AR-02), the top Republican on the Subcommittee on Housing Community Development, and Insurance, released a statement denouncing the Biden Administration’s shortsighted extension of the eviction moratorium and calling for consideration of Republicans’ Renter Protection Act.
On July 13, 2021, Republican Leader McHenry sent a letter to Chairwoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) demanding that Secretary Yellen testify alongside HUD Secretary Fudge to answer for the mismanagement of the ERA programs and calling for the Committee to consider Republicans’ Renter Protection Act at the next markup.
At a July 20, 2021 hearing with Secretary Fudge, Republican Leader McHenry hammered the administration for their inability to answer basic questions about the status of the ERA programs.
On July 28, 2021, Republican Leader McHenry joined other top Republicans in a letter blasting Secretary Yellen for skirting congressional oversight of the ERA programs and refusing to testify before Congress.