Keeping Renters Safe Act

Bill: 117-s-2776
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Introduced: 2021-09-21
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Department of Health and Human Services

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health promotion and preventive care

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Landlord and tenant
Latest action: action_date: 2021-09-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-09-21
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Keeping Renters Safe Act</strong></p> <p>This bill expressly authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to place a moratorium on residential evictions to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. The bill also requires HHS to implement a moratorium nationwide to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This moratorium must remain in effect for at least 60 days following the termination of the COVID-19 public health emergency.</p> <p>Current law authorizes HHS to take measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. As part of the COVID-19 response, HHS delegated this authority to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which then issued (and extended) several orders banning residential evictions. Whether these orders exceed the CDC's statutory and constitutional authority has been the subject of multiple legal challenges; the Supreme Court blocked enforcement of the most recent order on August 26, 2021.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2776 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 21, 2021 Ms. Warren (for herself, Mr. Markey , Mr. Padilla , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Sanders , and Mrs. Gillibrand ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To clarify that the Secretary of Health and Human Services has authority to implement a residential eviction moratorium under the quarantine authority vested by the Public Health Service Act, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Keeping Renters Safe Act . 2. Clarification HHS has authority for residential eviction moratoria Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 264 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: (e) Consistent with the standard described in subsection (a), regulations under this section may implement, maintain, or extend a residential eviction moratorium. . 3. COVID–19 eviction moratorium (a) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall implement a national residential eviction moratorium under section 361 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 264 ) to reduce the introduction, transmission, and spread of COVID–19 and otherwise address the public health emergency declared under section 319 of the such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d ) with respect to COVID–19. (b) Applicability The moratorium under subsection (a) shall— (1) be automatic, without requiring individuals to apply for coverage; and (2) apply to all residential eviction filings, hearings, judgments, and execution of judgments, except that the Secretary of Health and Human Services may establish moratorium exceptions necessary to protect the health and safety of others. (c) Period following public health emergency The moratorium under subsection (a) shall remain in effect at least 60 days after the conclusion of the public health emergency described in such subsection, including any extensions thereof.