Sheila Jackson Lee: “As a senior member of the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget Committees, I rise in strong and enthusiastic support…”

“As a senior member of the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and Budget Committees, I rise in strong and enthusiastic support of H.R. 7301, the ``Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020,'' which addresses the needs of renters and homeowners who have been severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic through targeted relief measures. In the month of June alone, 32 percent of renters were unable to fully pay their rent while 20 percent of renters were unable to make any rent payment at all. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the number of homeowners in forbearance reached 4.2 million as of June 14, 2020. The coronavirus pandemic has created a dire housing crisis that must be addressed immediately. As more and more states across the country face a second wave of the coronavirus outbreak, it is imperative that we extend the eviction moratorium and other housing protections in an effort to prevent an increase in homelessness. Texas is one of those states. In the state alone, there are nearly 150,000 cases of coronavirus with over 2,300 deaths. As the number of cases continue to rise dramatically, we must encourage tighter restrictions to slow the spread of the disease. Yet, many people fear that abiding by tighter restrictions means a continued loss of income, which could then result in an inability to make a housing payment and consequently cause an eviction. In fact, in Houston, Texas, eviction proceedings resumed as early as May 19, 2020.…”