{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/emmer-supports-amendment-to-address-fraudulent-use-of-emergency-rental-assistance-funds", "Emmer Supports Amendment to Address Fraudulent Use of Emergency Rental Assistance Funds", "2021-09-14", "2021", "2021-09", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Tom Emmer", "E000294", "emmer.house.gov", "emmer", "https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) spoke in support of an amendment offered by Representative French Hill (AR-02) to close a loophole in existing law which has led to fraud, waste, and abuse in the use of the Emergency Rental Assistance program.\n\nSpecifically, Congressman Hill\u2019s amendment would combat fraudulent tenant use of emergency rental assistance funds. It requires renters to notify landlords if they received emergency rental assistance payments, just as landlords are currently required to notify tenants when they receive rental assistance, so the renter knows their debts have been paid. Under the latest versions of the Emergency Rental Assistance legislation introduced by House Democrats, tenants are not required to notify landlords if they receive individual rental assistance payments, leading to a duplication of funds for COVID rental assistance and even the expenditure of relief money on things unrelated to the pandemic.\n\nWatch Rep. Emmer\u2019s Remarks here.\n\nRead Rep. French Hill\u2019s amendment here.\n\nTranscript:\n\n\u201cI\u2019d like to strike the last word please.\n\nThank you. I will be quick with my time, but I want to express support for my friend, Mr. Hill\u2019s amendment that addresses a possible oversight with the current law that is a redundant use of taxpayer dollars.\n\nAs my friend just explained, under the current law, if a property owner applies for and receives emergency rental assistance funds, they must let their renters know. Why? So, the renters can know if their debt was paid off.\n\nBut if a renter applies for the emergency rental assistance funds directly and received it, that renter is not required, under the current rules, to use that money toward rent. So, if a landlord received aid to pay off their renters\u2019 debt, but a renter also received aid directly, that renter would be able to pocket the money. This is a significant loophole in the current law and a source of waste, fraud, and abuse on the taxpayers\u2019 dime.\n\nI am proud to support Congressman Hill\u2019s amendment to clean up the current ERA rules and put our taxpayers\u2019 money toward better use.\n\nI yield back.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:17:01Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/emmer-supports-amendment-to-address-fraudulent-use-of-emergency-rental-assistance-funds"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3761790469288826, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}