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Committee advances bill clarifying CARES Act eviction language after heated debate
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Summary
The committee voted to report H.R. 10 78, the Respect State Housing Laws Act, which its sponsor said resolves a drafting ambiguity about the CARES Act 30‑day notice provision; Democrats argued the change would remove nationwide tenant protections and opposed the measure.
The House Financial Services Committee voted to report H.R. 10 78, the Respect State Housing Laws Act, after extended debate over whether the bill removes a permanent 30‑day eviction notice protection created in the CARES Act.
Sponsor Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) said his bill would ‘‘remove the drafting error’’ in section 4024(c) of the CARES Act and restore pre‑pandemic authority to states and localities to set notice-to-vacate periods. Loudermilk and supporters argued that ambiguity has produced litigation and uncertainty for property owners and managers, and that clarity would encourage participation in covered programs.
Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and other Democrats strongly opposed the measure, arguing that the CARES Act’s 30‑day notice provided crucial protection that reduced evictions and homelessness during the pandemic and that undoing it nationally would harm renters. Waters cited Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates on eviction reductions and urged the committee to preserve tenant protections rather than remove them.
The committee took an electronic recorded vote on ordering H.R. 10 78 as amended. The clerk reported the tally: ayes 29, nays 22. The bill was ordered favorably reported to the House.
What’s next: The bill will be included in committee reports and possibly considered on the House floor; members may file supplemental or dissenting views in the committee report.
Sources: Committee transcript; roll‑call reported by the committee clerk.
