Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020
This bill addresses various housing issues in response to the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency, including housing assistance programs and moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures.
The bill authorizes additional housing assistance, including rental assistance, for (1) low-income individuals with families, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; (2) the elderly; (3) individuals with disabilities; and (4) rural renters.
In addition, the bill establishes a 12-month moratorium on evictions covering all tenants, whereas the previously enacted moratorium covered only tenants of federally assisted properties.
Similarly, the bill establishes a 12-month moratorium on foreclosures that covers all tenants, whereas the previously enacted moratorium covered only federally backed mortgages.
The bill also establishes an automatic 60-day forbearance (i.e., suspension of mortgage payments) for a single-family mortgage that becomes delinquent by 60 days during the public health emergency. Under current law, the borrower must request a forbearance. This automatic forbearance also applies to certain reverse mortgages.
The bill extends the maximum period of forbearance for multifamily mortgages from 90 days to 12 months.
Additionally, the bill establishes a six-month moratorium on the repossession of personal property used as a dwelling.
The bill also provides additional bankruptcy protections by (1) increasing the homestead exemption (generally, the equity in a residence that is protected from creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding) from $15,000 to $100,000, and (2) expanding eligibility for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
| Action Date | Type | Text | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-06-30 | IntroReferral | Received in the Senate. | Senate |
| 2020-06-29 | Floor | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-29 | Vote | On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 232 - 180 (Roll no. 128). (text: CR H2644-2653) | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-29 | Vote | On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 191 - 219 (Roll no. 127). | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-29 | Floor | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2667-2668) | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-29 | Floor | POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions, the Chair put the question on the motion and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Huizenga demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further consideration on the motion to recommit until a time to be announced. | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-29 | Floor | The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-29 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Huizenga motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add language with new directions on groups to receive funds as well as adding a new title. | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-29 | Floor | Mr. Huizenga moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Financial Services. (text: CR H2661-2662) | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-29 | Floor | The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-29 | Floor | DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7301. | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-29 | Floor | Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1425, H.R. 5332, H.R. 7120, H.R. 7301 and H.J. Res. 90. The resolution provides that the provisions of section 125(c) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act shall not apply during the remainder of the 116th Congress and the resolution amends H.Res. 967, agreed to on May 15, 2020. | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-29 | Floor | Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1017. (consideration: CR H2644-2663) | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-24 | Floor | Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1017 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1425, H.R. 5332, H.R. 7120, H.R. 7301 and H.J. Res. 90. The resolution provides that the provisions of section 125(c) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act shall not apply during the remainder of the 116th Congress and the resolution amends H.Res. 967, agreed to on May 15, 2020. | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-24 | IntroReferral | Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-24 | IntroReferral | Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. | House floor actions |
| 2020-06-24 | IntroReferral | Introduced in House | Library of Congress |