NAA's Federal Advocacy Timeline
Timeline of NAA's Federal Advocacy During COVID-19
Hover over each bubble to learn more about NAA's federal advocacy efforts to protect the industry’s interests and obtain relief for housing providers.
Review our COVID-19 advocacy timeline to learn more about NAA's pandemic-specific federal advocacy efforts.
Additional resources are available for NAA members and affiliates.
January
NAA's COVID-19 Advocacy
NAA stayed busy during the pandemic, advocating for the apartment rental housing industry. Read more about NAA's work during COVID-19 through our interactive timeline.
NAA Gives Feedback
NAA and its real estate coalition partners provide feedback to Congress and the Administration as they begin to allocate and distribute rental assistance to the states. We outline important principles to consider when developing best practices for state and local programs.
REC Letter to Biden
Extending the federal eviction moratorium through September 30 would cripple rental housing providers. 19 percent of renters are currently unable to pay rent and, if that number remains steady, rent owed could amount to an additional $87.4 billion by the end of September. We need more rental assistance.
NAA's Advocacy Continues
NAA continues to work with its affiliate network to ensure federal rental assistance dollars are distributed quickly and efficiently to renters and housing providers who continue to struggle due to COVID-19.
Rental Assistance Advocacy
We urge the Treasury to allocate the funding as quickly as possible and to provide a framework for implementation that will maximize states and localities ability to get the much-needed assistance into the hands of the eligible recipients.
Rental Assistance FAQs
NAA and its real estate coalition partners urge the new Administration to provide further clarification on outstanding issues to ensure rental assistance programs are set up for success.
February
Federal Eviction Order
As the Administration conducts an interagency review of the CDC’s Order and consider changes to the current elements, NAA and its coalition partners shared our thoughts and recommendations. Extending the CDC eviction order is the wrong policy solution to the housing crisis created by the pandemic, especially without a sustained and robust rental assistance program in place.
House Comm. Hearing
As the Committee holds a hearing entitled “More than a Shot in the Arm: The Need for Additional COVID-19 Stimulus,” NAA and its coalition partners urged support for efforts to ensure the continued financial viability and stability of the rental housing industry. The REC also reiterates these points in a letter to the full House and Senate.
March
Lobby Days
In one of the largest showings of industry support to date, 552 members participated in 140 meetings during NAA's 2021 Lobby Day urging Congress to end the federal eviction moratorium and focus on relief efforts. We must ensure housing providers can continue to pay their bills while renters stay safely housed, and begin preparing for our post-pandemic future!
American Rescue Plan Act
On March 11, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) into law, thanks to the tens of thousands of you who participated in NAA’s calls to action and NAA’s Advocate Conference. You kept Congress’ attention on emergency rental assistance and other federal financial relief solutions to prevent evictions and ensure the continued viability of our industry.
Extended Moratorium
On March 29, the CDC extended its federal eviction moratorium order through June 30, 2021, and the CFPB and FTC announce stepped up enforcement efforts against housing providers. NAA continues its advocacy work with the Congress and the Administration and considers other paths forward, keeping all options on the table.
CNBC Interview
Bob Pinnegar, NAA President and CEO joined CNBC to discuss the harsh realities rental housing providers are facing in the wake of eviction moratoria.
MF Industry Needs Lumber Price Relief
Construction and housing coalition addresses the U.S. Department of Commerce on the long-term economic impact of increasingly high lumber prices.
April
Scripps Media Interview
NAA President and CEO Bob Pinnegar sat down with Scripps Media to share powerful stories of rental housing providers and residents teaming up to receive rental assistance in a piece that ran on television stations across the country.
NAA Supports Rental Relief
Some rental assistance programs that benefitted from federal funding have made subsidized renters and their housing providers ineligible for rent relief, directly conflicting with Treasury Guidance Question 15. We urge the Treasury to update its guidance and remind grantees that subsidized renters are eligible.
NAA Urges End of Eviction Moratorium
NAA and its real estate coalition partners encourage the Administration to prepare to end the CDC Eviction Moratorium Order on June 30 and move beyond its one-size-fits-all strategy for preventing housing displacement. States and localities are best suited to craft and implement housing solutions according to their individual market needs.
May
6,073 messages
So far 1,985 advocates have sent 5,865 messages and 208 tweets to Congress on the impact of the CDC moratorium. Sharing your story with Congress can help shed light on what the rental housing industry is facing during this time. Take action today!
Rental Assistance Distribution Challenges
NAA and its real estate coalition partners continue to educate the Administration and Congress on rental assistance distribution challenges and highlight best practices. Renters and housing providers equally benefit from quick and efficient allocation of federal emergency rental assistance funding to support their pandemic recovery.
CFPB Rule in Support of CDC Order
The CFPB issues an interim final rule requiring “debt collectors” to provide notice to renters of their rights under the CDC’s eviction moratorium order. NAA continues conversations with the Administration and agency officials about the ongoing challenges that housing providers face in light of the Order and related federal requirements.
Politico Article
Greg Brown, NAA’s Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, spoke with Politico about the long-term threats that pandemic policies like eviction moratoria will have on the industry.
Notification Req.
The FTC and CFPB send notification letters to the nation’s largest apartment owners, which collectively own more than 2 million units, reminding them of their obligation to notify residents of CDC Eviction Order protections. NAA continues its advocacy and efforts to educate members on this new requirement.
Federal Judge Vacates the CDC Order
In Alabama Association of Realtors v. HHS, a federal judge has ruled the CDC Eviction Moratorium unlawful; the judge subsequently stayed his decision to avoid evictions while the government’s appeal is under consideration. NAA is encouraged by the growing legal precedent and exploring all options to continue our support of the industry.
New Rental Assistance Guidance
The Administration has released new guidance and announced new multi-agency efforts to support the distribution of $21.6 billion in emergency rental assistance, originating from the American Rescue Plan Act earlier this year. Learn more about our analysis of the new guidance.
Real Estate Responds FinCen Rulemaking
Real estate coalition sends a comment letter to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network emphasizing clarity and accessibility in upcoming ownership disclosure regulations.
Save Local Business Act
Business coalition urges swift passage of the Save Local Business Act which would limit joint-employer status for businesses, thus reducing their liability risk for subcontractors and temporary staff
Clean Energy For America Act
NAA and its real estate coalition partners argue the adverse impact Davis-Bacon wage requirements will have on housing affordability, as well as the regulatory and financial burden placed on housing professionals.
June
Choice in Affordable Housing Act
NAA and its coalition partners support the introduction of S. 1820, the bipartisan Choice in Affordable Housing Act, introduced by Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND). Incentivizing voluntary participation of housing providers in the Section 8 HCV program would improve housing outcomes for participants overall.
Push for End of Eviction Moratorium
NAA continues its advocacy with the Administration and Congress to emphasize the need for the CDC eviction order to sunset as scheduled on June 30. Learn more in our joint press statement with industry leaders and our letter which highlights the industry's concerns.
Carried Interest Fairness Act
Legislation like the Carried Interest Fairness Act (H.R. 1068), and the President’s budget proposal to tax carried interests as ordinary income, would result in an enormous tax increase on countless Americans who use partnerships to develop, own, and operate real estate. Learn more about NAA's advocacy here.
Eviction Moratorium Extended
In advance of the CDC Order’s July 31 end date, the White House convened its Summit on Eviction Prevention to promote housing stability and discuss eviction diversion solutions. The event featured NAA member Gilbert Winn, CEO, WinnCompanies and included industry leaders from NAA’s affiliate network who provided the housing provider perspective and brought balance to the advocacy breakout sessions.
July
NAA supports H.R. 3123
NAA urges Congress to support H.R. 3123, Parity for Non-Traded REIT Act of 2021. H.R. 3132 will increase the flow of critically needed capital to help meet the growing need for multifamily housing and particularly workforce housing.
Changing Radon Testing Requirements
NAA voiced industry concerns over anticipated onerous changes to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) radon testing and mitigation requirements for multifamily properties. On July 20, NAA participated in an FHFA listening session where industry advocates proposed alternative solutions to the anticipated changes that reduce the burden on owners and operators, while ensuring the health and safety of properties and residents.
Advocacy Against G-Fees
NAA and its coalition partners urge the Senate's chief negotiators of the infrastructure package to refrain from utilizing GSE guarantee fees (g-fees) as a source of funding offsets. This approach will ultimately impact housing affordability. Learn more about our position here.
NAA Files Suit Against CDC
On July 27, NAA filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims to recover roughly $26 billion in damages on behalf of rental housing providers that have suffered severe economic losses under the CDC’s overreaching federal eviction moratorium. Your support is encouraged.
NAA on FoxBusiness
Watch NAA’s President and CEO Bob Pinnegar on FoxBusiness as he discussed our legal efforts and the CDC order’s impacts on the rental housing industry.
NAA Encourages Julia Gordon Nomination
NAA and its real estate coalition partners encourage the Senate to confirm the nomination of Julia Gordon as HUD Assistant Secretary for Housing and Commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
H.R. 4791
On July 29, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee introduced legislation that would extend the eviction moratorium through the end of the year – H.R. 4791, the “Protecting Renters from Evictions Act, of 2021”.
Continued Advocacy
NAA continues its federal advocacy, urging the end of the CDC’s unsustainable nationwide federal restrictions on property operations, and instead encourage focus on implementing workable solutions for renters facing housing instability to help the entire country recover.
1,200 contacts
Thank you to those who participated in our grassroots outreach which resulted in close to 1,200 Congressional contacts in just a few hours. Your efforts were extremely helpful in thwarting a legislative extension of the CDC eviction moratorium.
Infrastructure Bill
The House of Representatives passed a $715 billion surface transportation infrastructure bill which included NAA supported language (H.R. 2843) to build more housing near transit locations. A letter in support of the NAA supported Build More Housing Near Transit Act can be found here.
August
New Eviction Moratorium
After the CDC allowed its nationwide stay of evictions for covered persons to expire on July 31, the agency announced a new, targeted version put into place at the direction of President Biden; it remains effective from August 3 through October 3, 2021. Learn more about NAA’s updated member guidance.
NAA Encourages ERAP Reform
NAA and its coalition partners urge critically needed reforms to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program which provides the framework for how state and local programs distribute federal housing aid.
NAA Urges NFIP Updates
In advance of the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) reauthorization in September, NAA has urged federal lawmakers to consider several reforms to the decades-old program that reflect growing affordability concerns.
Ongoing Flood Insurance Advocacy
As part of NAA's ongoing flood insurance advocacy, NAA has requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disclose estimated NFIP policy premium changes for multifamily properties per the implementation of NFIP’s new risk assessment program Risk Rating 2.0.
NAA Urges Section 8 Funding
NAA joins a broad cross-section of stakeholders in asking Senate appropriators to support increased funding levels for additional Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, administrative costs, and the mobility demonstration program.
Senate Passes Infrastructure Bill
The Senate passed a bipartisan infrastructure bill by a vote of 69-30. The House has indicated they would take up the bill in September, however there is a disagreement between House moderate Democrats and progressives in the party about whether the bill should be considered before or after the House considers a larger $3.5 trillion budget bill with many progressive social policies.
October
Comment Letter on Enterprise Equity Housing Plans
In response to the Federal Housing Finance Agency's Request for Input on proposed Enterprise Equity Housing Plans, NAA has provided comment on how the Enterprises can better incorporate rental housing into their strategies to make housing more accessible and affordable for all.
Comment Letter on Affordable Housing Goals
NAA responded to the FHFA's new proposed affordable housing goals for the Enterprises, offering additional pathways to meeting the nation's demand for more affordable housing.