,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #feae ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #ag1 #bjbj,ms4 ,omar 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,ocasio-,cortez1 ,ms4 ,tlaib1 ,ms4 ,pressley1 ,ms4 ,jayapal1 ,mr4 ,pocan1 ,ms4 ,escobar1 ,mr4 ,garca of ,illinois1 and ,ms4 ,meng7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,financial ,services ,a ,,bill ,to suspend obligations of residential renters and mortgagors to make payments during the ,,covid-#ai emergency1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,rent and ,mortgage ,cancellation ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,suspension of obligations to make residential mortgage and rent payments 7a7 ,rent payments 7#a7 ,suspension ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the obligation of each tenant household of a covered rental dwelling unit to pay rent for occupancy in such dwelling unit shall be suspended with respect to such occupancy during the ,,covid-#ai suspension period4 7#b7 ,prohibitions 7,a7 ,on fines ,no tenant or tenant household may be charged a fine or fee for nonpayment of rent in accordance with paragraph 7#a7 and such nonpayment of rent shall not be grounds for any termination of tenancy or eviction4 7,b7 ,on debt ,no tenant or tenant household may be treated as accruing any debt by reason of suspension of contribution of rent under paragraph 7#a74 7,c7 ,on repayment ,no tenant or tenant household may be held liable for repayment of any amount of rent contribution suspended under paragraph 7#a74 7,d7 ,on credit scores ,the nonpayment of rent by a tenant or tenant household shall not be reported to a consumer reporting agency nor shall such nonpayment adversely affect a tenant or member of a tenant household's credit score4 7b7 ,mortgage payments 7#a7 ,suspension ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the obligation of each mortgagor under a covered residential mortgage loan to make mortgage payments of principal and interest that become due during the ,,covid-#ai suspension period is hereby suspended4 7#b7 ,requirements and prohibitions 7,a7 ,on debt ,no mortgagor under any covered residential mortgage loan may be held responsible for payment of mortgage payments suspended under paragraph 7#a7 or treated as accruing any debt by reason of suspension under such paragraph of the obligation to make mortgage payments4 7,b7 ,on foreclosure ,a mortgagee under a covered residential mortgage loan 7or servicer for such mortgagee7 may not commence or continue any judicial foreclosure action or non-judicial foreclosure process or any action for failure to make a payment due under such mortgage that is suspended pursuant to paragraph 7#a74 7,c7 ,on fees1 penalties1 and interest ,no fees1 penalties1 or additional interest beyond the amounts scheduled or calculated as if the mortgagor made all contractual payments on time and in full under the terms of the mortgage contract in effect as of the commencement of the ,,covid-#ai suspension period shall accrue4 7,d7 ,on credit scores ,the nonpayment of a mortgage payment by a mortgagor pursuant to suspension under paragraph 7#a7 of the obligation to make such payment shall not be reported to a consumer reporting agency nor shall such nonpayment adversely affect a mortgagor's credit score4 7c7 ,notice ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall establish and carry out a system to notify all tenants of covered rental dwelling units1 including tenants described in section #g7a77;,b77ii71 and all mortgagors under covered residential mortgage loans1 of the suspensions under paragraph 7#a7 of subsections 7a7 and 7b7 of the obligations to make rental payments or mortgage payments1 respectively1 and of their right to pursue legal action pursuant to section #c4 #c4 ,civil action 7a7 ,in general ,any individual aggrieved by an adverse action taken by a lessor or mortgagee for exercising rights under section #b may commence a civil action under this section against the lessor or mortgagee violating such section in an appropriate ,united ,states district court or ,state court not later than #b years after such violation occurs for damages under subsection 7b74 7b7 ,damages2 penalty ,any lessor or mortgagee found to have taken adverse action against any lessee or mortgagor for exercising rights under section #b shall be liable-- 7#a7 to the individual aggrieved by such violation1 for any actual damages as a result of such adverse action2 and 7#b7 for a fine in the amount of-- 7,a7 #e1jjj1 in the case of violation that is the first violation by such lessor or mortgagee2 7,b7 #aj1jjj1 in the case of violation that is the second violation by such lessor or mortgagee2 and 7,c7 #ej1jjj or forfeiture of the property1 in the case of violation that is the third or subsequent violation by such lessor or mortgagee4 7c7 ,authority of court ,in an action brought under this section1 the court-- 7#a7 may award preventative relief1 including a permanent or temporary injunction or other order1 to ensure the full rights granted by subsections 7a7 and 7b7 of section #b2 and 7#b7 shall award any prevailing plaintiff1 other than the ,united ,states1 reasonable attorney's fee and costs4 7d7 ,attorney ,general enforcement ,the ,attorney ,general may bring a civil action in any appropriate ,united ,states district court against any individual who violates subsection 7a7 or 7b7 of section #b for fines under subsection 7b77#b7 of this section4 #d4 ,landlord relief fund 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall establish and manage a ,landlord ,relief ,fund 7in this section referred to as the ,fund71 to provide lessors payments under this section to reimburse such lessors for payments under covered residential mortgage loans suspended pursuant to section #b7;b74 7b7 ,application ,the ,secretary shall provide for lessors of covered rental dwelling units to apply for reimbursement payments from the ,fund1 which applications shall include the certifications and binding agreements required pursuant to subsection 7c74 7c7 ,eligibility ,the ,secretary may provide a payment under this section only with respect to covered rental dwelling units that meet all of the following requirements3 7#a7 ,fair rental requirements ,the lessor of the covered rental dwelling unit has made such certifications to1 and entered into such binding agreements with1 the ,secretary as the ,secretary considers necessary to ensure that during the #e-year period beginning upon initial receipt by such lessor of payment under this section for such dwelling unit1 such dwelling unit shall be subject to the following requirements3 7,a7 ,rent freeze ,the monthly rent for the dwelling unit may not be increased from the amount of such rent charged as of the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7,b7 ,just-cause evictions ,a tenant of the dwelling unit may be evicted only for just cause and only pursuant to advance written notice to the tenant of such just cause4 7,c7 ,source of income discrimination ,the lessor may not refuse to rent the dwelling unit1 or discriminate in the renting of the dwelling unit1 to a household based on the source of income of such household1 including income under the program under section #h7o7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o77 or any similar tenant-based rental assistance program4 7,d7 ,new vacancies ,the lessor shall coordinate with the public and other housing authorities for the jurisdiction within which the dwelling unit is located to make the dwelling unit available1 upon any vacancy1 to households assisted as described in subparagraph 7,c74 7,e7 ,admissions restrictions ,the lessor may not restrict tenancy of the dwelling unit on the basis of sexual identity or orientation1 gender identity or expression1 conviction or arrest record1 credit history1 or immigration status4 7,f7 ,arrearages ,the lessor may not collect an arrearage in rent owed by the tenant as of the expiration of such #e-year period4 7,g7 ,retaliation ,the lessor may not retaliate in any way against a tenant of the dwelling unit4 7,h7 ,debt collectors and credit reporting agencies ,the lessor may not report the tenant of the dwelling unit to a debt collector or provide any adverse information regarding the tenant to any credit reporting agency4 7#b7 ,prohibition on duplication of assistance ,assistance may not be provided under this section with respect to any dwelling unit for which assistance is provided pursuant to section #e4 7d7 ,amount 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the amount of a payment under this section with respect to a covered rental dwelling unit may not exceed the aggregate amount of rent for the dwelling unit suspended pursuant to section #b7;a7 and attributable only to days during the ,,covid-#ai suspension period that the dwelling unit was occupied by a tenant otherwise required to pay rent for such occupancy4 7#b7 ,reimbursement for rent paid by tenants ,in making payments under this section with respect to any covered dwelling unit for which tenant made a payment of rent during the ,,covid-#ai suspension period1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 reduce the amount of the payment to the lessor under paragraph 7#a7 by the amount of any such rent paid2 and 7,b7 make a payment to such tenant in the amount of any such rent paid4 7e7 ,priority ,in making payments under this section1 the ,secretary shall establish a tiered system for priority for such payments based on assets1 revenues1 disclosure requirements1 and profit status with respect to lessors4 ,such system shall provide priority for making payments to eligible lessors that are nonprofit organizations or entities and lessors having the fewest available amount of assets4 7f7 ,recapture ,if a lessor violates any requirement with respect to a covered rental dwelling unit under any certification or agreement entered into pursuant to subsection 7c77#b71 the ,secretary shall recapture from the lessor an amount equal to the entire amount of assistance provided under this section that is attributable to such dwelling unit and cover such amount recaptured into the ,fund4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated for the ,landlord ,relief ,fund established pursuant to this section such sums as may be necessary to reimburse all lessors for all rent payments suspended pursuant to section #b7;a74 #e4 ,lender ,relief ,fund 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall establish and manage a ,lender ,relief ,fund 7in this section referred to as the ,fund71 to provide mortgagees payments under this section to reimburse such mortgagees for mortgage payments suspended pursuant to section #b7;b74 7b7 ,application ,the ,secretary shall provide for mortgagees under covered residential mortgage loans to apply for reimbursement payments from the ,fund1 which applications shall include the certifications and binding agreements required pursuant to subsection 7c74 ,the ,secretary shall provide that an eligible mortgagee may apply for assistance from the ,fund only once with respect to any covered residential mortgage loan4 7c7 ,eligibility ,the ,secretary may provide a payment under this section only with respect to covered residential mortgage loans that meet all of the following requirements3 7#a7 ,fair and inclusive lending requirements ,the mortgagee for the mortgage loan has made such certifications to1 and entered into such binding agreements with1 the ,secretary as the ,secretary considers necessary to ensure that during the #e-year period beginning upon initial receipt by such mortgagee of payment under this section for such mortgage loan1 such mortgagee shall be subject to the following requirements3 7,a7 ,reporting on lending ,the mortgagee shall report annually to the ,secretary such detailed information regarding residential mortgage loans made by such mortgagee as the ,secretary shall require1 including the race1 ethnicity1 age1 and credit score of mortgagors1 the zip codes of properties for which mortgages were made1 and the interest rates and other loan pricing features of such mortgage loans4 7,b7 ,reporting on lender ,the mortgagee shall report annually to the ,secretary such detailed information regarding the mortgagee as the ,secretary shall require1 including the location of the offices of the mortgagee1 and practices and systems for outreach to and referral of borrowers4 7#b7 ,prohibition on duplication of assistance ,assistance may not be provided under this section with respect to any dwelling unit subject to a covered residential mortgage loan for which assistance is provided pursuant to section #d4 7d7 ,amount 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the amount of a payment under this section with respect to a covered residential mortgage may not exceed the aggregate amount of mortgage payments under the mortgage suspended pursuant to section #b7;b74 7#b7 ,reimbursement for mortgage payments made by mortgagors ,in making payments under this section with respect to any covered residential mortgage loan for which the mortgagor made a mortgage payment during the ,,covid-#ai suspension period1 the ,secretary shall-- 7,a7 reduce the amount of the payment to the mortgagee under paragraph 7#a7 by the amount of any such mortgage payments paid2 and 7,b7 make a payment to the mortgagor in the amount of any such mortgages payments paid4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated for the ,lender ,relief ,fund established pursuant to this section such sums as may be necessary to reimburse all lessors for all rent payments suspended pursuant to section #b7;b74 #f4 ,affordable ,housing ,acquisition ,fund 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development shall establish and manage an ,affordable ,housing ,acquisition ,fund 7in this section referred to as the ,fund71 to fund the acquisition of multifamily housing projects by eligible purchasers to-- 7#a7 ensure that tenants have access to safe and habitable housing conditions regardless of their landlords' ability to pay for repairs and maintenance during and after the ,,covid-#ai pandemic2 7#b7 prevent financial hardship for rental property owners2 and 7#c7 prevent a mass exit in the rental housing market that results in massive corporate purchases similar to the #bjjh economic crisis4 7b7 ,first right of purchase 7#a7 ,notice to secretary ,during the #e-year period beginning upon the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the owner of a multifamily housing property may not sell or transfer ownership of such property unless-- 7,a7 the owner has notified the ,secretary1 in accordance with such requirements as the ,secretary shall establish1 of the owner's intent to sell or transfer the property2 7,b7 a period of #fj days1 beginning upon provision of such notice to the ,secretary1 has elapsed2 and 7,c7 if during such #fj-;day period any eligible purchaser under paragraph 7#c7 applies to the ,secretary for purchase assistance under subsection 7c7 with respect to such property1 the ,secretary has approved or denied such application and1 if approved1 the eligible purchaser has made a bona fide offer to the owner to purchase such project in the amount determined under subsection 7c77#c77;,a74 7#b7 ,notice to eligible purchasers ,upon provision to the ,secretary of notice under paragraph 7#a77;,a7 regarding a multifamily housing project1 the ,secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to provide notice to eligible purchasers of the owner's intent to sell or transfer the property4 7#c7 ,eligible purchasers ,for purposes of this section1 an eligible purchaser under this paragraph shall be a nonprofit organization1 a public housing agency1 a cooperative housing association1 a community land trust1 or a ,state or unit of local government or an agency thereof1 as such terms are defined by the ,secretary4 7c7 ,purchase assistance 7#a7 ,application ,the ,secretary shall provide for eligible purchasers to apply for assistance from the ,fund to cover the cost of acquisition of a multifamily housing project for which notice has been submitted pursuant to subsection 7#a77;,a74 7#b7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary shall establish such criteria and preferences as the ,secretary considers appropriate to select an eligible purchaser for assistance under this section in cases in which more than one approvable application for such assistance is submitted with respect to a single multifamily housing project4 7#c7 ,amount ,pursuant to an application submitted under paragraph 7#a7 with respect to a multifamily housing project1 the ,secretary may provide assistance from the ,fund on behalf of eligible purchaser submitting such application1 in an amount equal to the purchase price for the project agreed to under subparagraph 7,a7 of this paragraph1 but only if the ,secretary determines that-- 7,a7 such eligible purchaser and the owner of such multifamily housing project have voluntarily agreed to a sale of such project to the eligible purchaser for an amount not exceeding the fair market value of the project as of the time of provision of assistance from the ,fund for purchase of the project1 as determined by the ,secretary2 and 7,b7 the eligible purchaser has made the certifications and entered into the agreements required under subsection 7d7 with respect to the project4 7d7 ,affordable housing restrictions ,the certifications and agreements required under this subsection with respect to a multifamily housing project are such certifications to1 and binding agreements with1 the ,secretary as the ,secretary considers necessary to ensure that during the useful life of the project the project will comply with the following requirements3 7#a7 ,affordable housing ,the project shall comply with the requirements under section #bae7;a7 of the ,cranston-,gonzalez ,national ,affordable ,housing ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abgde7;a77 necessary to qualify under such section as affordable housing4 7#b7 ,just-cause evictions ,a tenant of the project may be evicted only for just cause and only pursuant to advance written notice to the tenant of such just cause4 7#c7 ,source of income discrimination ,a prospective tenant household of the project may not be refused rental of a dwelling unit in the project1 and a prospective tenant household or tenant household may not be discriminated against in the renting of a dwelling unit in the project1 based on the source of income of such household1 including income under the program under section #h7o7 of the ,united ,states ,housing ,act of #aicg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #adcg;f7o77 or any similar tenant-based rental assistance program4 7#d7 ,admissions restrictions ,tenancy of dwelling units in the project may not be restricted on the basis of sexual identity or orientation1 gender identity or expression1 conviction or arrest record1 credit history1 or immigration status4 7#e7 ,supportive services ,residents of the project shall be provided with free1 voluntary supportive services that help address the needs of those experiencing chronic homelessness or housing instability1 including access to healthcare1 employment or education assistance1 childcare1 financial literacy education1 and other community-based support services1 as the ,secretary shall require4 7#f7 ,democratic control ,tenants of the project shall have control of living and operating conditions in the project through a democratically elected resident board or council4 7e7 ,recapture ,if an eligible purchaser violates any requirement with respect to a multifamily housing project purchased with assistance provided from the ,fund under any certification or agreement entered into pursuant to subsection 7d71 the ,secretary shall recapture from the eligible purchase an amount equal to the amount of such assistance provided and shall cover such amount recaptured into the ,fund4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated for the ,affordable ,housing ,acquisition ,fund established pursuant to this section such sums as may be necessary-- 7#a7 for assistance under this section to fund acquisition of multifamily housing projects by eligible purchasers2 and 7#b7 for each fiscal year1 for assistance for the operation and maintenance of eligible properties purchased with assistance provided from the ,fund4 #g4 ,definitions ,for purposes of this ,act1 the following definitions shall apply3 7#a7 ,covered rental dwelling unit ,the term covered rental dwelling unit means a dwelling that is occupied by a tenant-- 7,a7 as a primary residence2 and 7,b7 7i7 pursuant to a residential lease2 or 7ii7 without a lease or with a lease terminable at will under ,state law4 ,such term includes such a dwelling unit in multifamily housing1 single-family housing1 a condominium unit1 a unit in cooperative housing1 a dwelling unit that is occupied pursuant to a sublease1 a single-room occupancy unit1 and a manufactured housing dwelling unit and the lot on which it is located4 7#b7 ,covered residential mortgage loan ,the term covered residential mortgage loan means any consumer credit transaction that is secured by a mortgage1 deed of trust1 or other equivalent consensual security interest on residence consisting of a single dwelling unit that is occupied by the mortgagor as a primary residence4 7#c7 ,,covid-#ai suspension period ,the term ,,covid-#ai suspension period means the period beginning on ,april #a1 #bjbj1 and ending upon the expiration of the #cj-;day period that begins upon the date of the termination by the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency of the emergency declared on ,march #ac1 #bjbj1 by the ,president under the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #daba et seq47 relating to the ,coronavirus ,disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai7 pandemic4 7#d7 ,multifamily housing project ,the term multifamily housing project means a residential structure consisting of #e or more dwelling units4 7#e7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 #h4 ,regulations ,the ,secretary may issue any regulations necessary to carry out this ,act4