[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 215 (Friday, December 18, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H7264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING EVICTION RELIEF IN COVID PACKAGE

  (Ms. SCANLON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I rise in support today of eviction 
relief, which we expect to see included in the COVID package we vote on 
soon.
  While we need to do more, this bill provides a meaningful start to 
addressing the eviction crisis caused by the pandemic. In Pennsylvania 
alone, nearly one-quarter million households are behind on their rent 
and facing the real threat of eviction.
  This bill will allow, as an authorized administrative expense, funds 
to be sent to civil legal aid organizations to help keep people in 
their homes. Under this crucial legislation, legal aid organizations, 
including faith-based groups, can represent tenants in eviction cases, 
improve access to utilities, and ensure housing conditions meet 
necessary standards.
  Rental assistance alone will not help the thousands of people facing 
eviction; families often need access to legal advice to protect their 
rights. Legal counsel should not be a privilege saved for the 
wealthiest in our country. It is a basic necessity for navigating the 
difficult problems facing Americans who are on the bottom rungs of our 
economy.
  I will continue advocating for the families hardest hit by the COVID 
pandemic, and I thank my colleagues for their hard work on this 
legislation.

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