Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released the following statement announcing her support of  H.R.4791, The Protecting Renters From Evictions Act of 2021, and her call for the House of Representatives to reconvene for a vote to extend the national eviction moratorium to December 31, 2021:  

“Housing a human right, and for the estimated 6.5 million Americans facing eviction nationwide, the patchwork safety net of state laws and emergency executive orders is not enough to stave off this crisis. We must extend the national eviction moratorium until at least December 31, 2021. That is why I am proud to co-lead H.R. 4791, The Protecting Renters From Evictions Act of 2021. The federal eviction moratorium assists our most vulnerable and provides housing security during this devastating pandemic. But, let me be very clear, this pandemic is not over. As cases of the Delta variant continue to rise, I cannot forget since the start of the pandemic, more than 62,000 eviction cases have been filed in New York City Housing Court, despite a statewide eviction moratorium. And while New York State’s eviction moratorium is not set to expire until the end of August, that is not enough,” said Clarke. “I am calling for the House of Representatives to reconvene and vote to pass H.R. 4791 immediately. Additionally, I am asking my colleagues in the Senate to take swift and immediate action and pass the senate companion bill, so that President Biden can sign this extension into law. This cannot wait, and we cannot yield. It is time for action.”

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Yvette D. Clarke has been in Congress since 2007. She represents New York’s Ninth Congressional District, which includes Central and South Brooklyn. Clarke is Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce on Immigration,  a Senior Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and a Senior Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security.