Congressman Cohen Introduces the Emergency Eviction Enforcement Act

MEMPHIS -- Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today introduced the Emergency Eviction Enforcement Act of 2020 to protect vulnerable tenants from evictions during a public health crisis.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

"Our efforts in the CARES Act to prevent evictions during the ongoing pandemic begin to expire at the end of the year and it is critical that we address the issue. This is when the experts tell us we could face the worst of the pandemic. Congress needs to send a clear signal that during national emergencies, no one can be removed from his or her home without full judicial review. Landlords cannot take things into their own hands."

The Emergency Eviction Enforcement Act of 2020 would prevent landlords from effecting evictions by:

• Creating a private right of action in federal court against landlords for housing tenants who were evicted without a duly issued court order during a national emergency or public health emergency. To deter this conduct, successful plaintiffs would be entitled to treble (3x) damages.

• Creating a federal crime to prevent an eviction of a housing tenant without a court order during a national emergency or public health emergency.