A bipartisan group of 50 House members has come out with its own plan for when it will be possible to reopen the country – and included among its proposals a call for suspending rent and mortgage payments. 

The group calls for ‘rapid and ubiquitous testing’ as among the health benchmarks that ‘must’ be achieved before reopening. It also wants to ensure ‘adequate supply chain resources’ to get protective gear to both first responders and front-line workers. 

The group, split evenly among Republicans and Democrats in the House, also calls for a ‘Rental, Commercial, and Home Ownership Market Stabilization Plan.’

Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., cochairs of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, are releasing a plan that calls for rent and mortgage forgiveness

Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., and Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., cochairs of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, are releasing a plan that calls for rent and mortgage forgiveness

Although it doesn’t provide precise details, the plan states: ‘We must find a way to afford relief, either through long-term loans, rental relief, forgiveness, or temporary forbearance for renters and homeowners, while, at the same time, ensuring the liquidity of related lenders and landlords.’

The group’s plan states that the virus and the government’s response ”have led to significant liquidity and financial exposure up and down the line, from renters and homeowners to landlords and lenders.’

The caucus is chaired by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., and Rep. Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y.

Congress enacted legislation that provided a bailout of more than $2 trillion, with billions in programs for small businesses and $1,200 checks going out to millions of Americans.

The plan sets out criteria for when the country should reopen

The plan sets out criteria for when the country should reopen

The plan sets out criteria for when the country should reopen

President Trump has sought to keep the latest coronavirus bailout specific to small business, but is now facing calls for a range of relief efforts

President Trump has sought to keep the latest coronavirus bailout specific to small business, but is now facing calls for a range of relief efforts

President Trump has sought to keep the latest coronavirus bailout specific to small business, but is now facing calls for a range of relief efforts

Tenant right advocates including Nathan Sirdar organized a honking, vehicle protest around the US Bank building. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has a bill to suspend rent and mortgage payments

Tenant right advocates including Nathan Sirdar organized a honking, vehicle protest around the US Bank building. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has a bill to suspend rent and mortgage payments

Tenant right advocates including Nathan Sirdar organized a honking, vehicle protest around the US Bank building. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has a bill to suspend rent and mortgage payments

Two men hold signs as they protest against the state's extended stay-at-home order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as hundreds gather to demonstrate at the Capitol building in Olympia, Washington, U.S. April 19, 2020

Two men hold signs as they protest against the state's extended stay-at-home order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as hundreds gather to demonstrate at the Capitol building in Olympia, Washington, U.S. April 19, 2020

Two men hold signs as they protest against the state’s extended stay-at-home order to help slow the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as hundreds gather to demonstrate at the Capitol building in Olympia, Washington, U.S. April 19, 2020

The group included a list of proposals to provide a holiday for rent or mortgage payments. Here tenant right advocates including Karissa Stotts organized a honking, vehicle protest around the US Bank building in Minneapolis

The group included a list of proposals to provide a holiday for rent or mortgage payments. Here tenant right advocates including Karissa Stotts organized a honking, vehicle protest around the US Bank building in Minneapolis

The group included a list of proposals to provide a holiday for rent or mortgage payments. Here tenant right advocates including Karissa Stotts organized a honking, vehicle protest around the US Bank building in Minneapolis

But with unemployment claims topping 20 million and millions more taking pay-cuts, many Americans are facing difficulty with mortgage and rent payments. 

The proposal points to new proposals bubbling up from the left wing of the House majority. Last week, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota released a proposal that would cancel rent and mortgage payments effective April 1. 

Omar’s bill, cosponsored by ‘squad’ members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, would then have landlords apply 

would then require landlords to apply to a relief fund to get reimbursed for lost payments – but then agree to conditions in order to get them. These include freezing rent for five years, following fair housing rules, and offering vacant properties to public housing recipients.   

‘Already calls for a rent strike are echoing across the country, as tenants withhold payments indefinitely,’ Omar said Friday, calling for the government to act ‘to prevent a full collapse of our housing market.’

 Another proposal by Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Tim Ryan (D-OH) would provide $2,000 monthly payments for Americans affected by the coronavirus crisis. The stimulus checks would go to individuals earning less than $130,000 a year.

The ‘problem solvers’ plan, reported by Fox News, spells out criteria including testing, supplies, and medical surveillance of the population required for a safe reopening.  

‘The overall point is that we need to have testing,’ said Gottheimer. ‘It’s critical to be able to fully reopen,’ he added. 

 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk