FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) most recent eviction moratorium:
“Yesterday, the Supreme Court cruelly decided to strike down the latest CDC eviction moratorium during a deadly pandemic. Millions of people, families, and children are now at risk of becoming housing insecure or unhoused. But this is more than a housing crisis—this is a public health emergency.
“The Delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading rapidly across our country, and only 51 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated against the virus. Low-income and communities and color have lower vaccination rates, higher cases of COVID-19, and are at an increased risk of eviction. Putting an end to the eviction moratorium is a matter of life and death for these communities.
“In California, we see what happens with leadership that makes a priority of keeping people in their homes. California renters, including people in my district, will not be impacted by this decision because of the statewide eviction moratorium that runs through September 30, 2021. Additionally, our statewide COVID-19 rent relief program remains open and is still accepting applications. More than 37,800 Los Angeles County residents have applied for rent relief and a total of $169.5 million in rental assistance funding has been dispersed in the county. I encourage any constituents in need of immediate assistance to apply for California’s COVID-19 rent relief.
“Still, the Supreme Court’s decision to block the Biden Administration’s federal eviction moratorium only further illustrates the need to take action at the federal level. Too many people across the country – families with children – will be kicked to the street.
“Earlier today, I signed a letter to House and Senate leadership that urged Congress to pass legislation extending the eviction moratorium for the duration of the COVID pandemic. We must immediately do everything possible to ensure people can stay in their homes.”
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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security.