With evictions looming, Congress strains to extend ban

Congress is trying to extend the nation's eviction moratorium just hours before it is set to expire

WASHINGTON -- Hours before a nationwide eviction moratorium is set to expire, Congress raced Friday to try to extend the ban in a longshot effort to prevent millions of Americans from being forced from their homes during a COVID-19 surge. A House panel convened to consider emergency legislation to extend the ban, which expires Saturday, through Dec. 31. But no vote has been set. More than 3.6 million Americans are at risk of eviction, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has implored colleagues to act, calling it a “moral imperative" to protect renters and also the landlords who are owed compensation. But facing difficulty in quickly passing a measure through Congress, Pelosi on Friday urged the administration to step in. She called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue the moratorium, despite President Joe Biden's announcement ruling out administration action.