H.R. 5307 — Introduced in House

I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5307 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 21, 2021Ms. Bush (for herself, Ms. Pressley, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Gomez, Ms. Omar, Mr. Jones, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Bowman, Ms. Norton, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Vargas, Mr. García of Illinois, Mr. Kahele, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Espaillat, Ms. Bass, Ms. Meng, Mr. McGovern, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Takano, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Torres of New York, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Levin of Michigan, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Barragán, Mr. Cárdenas, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Ms. Tlaib, and Mr. Schiff) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 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 of 2021. 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.