{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-backs-legislation-to-empower-tenants-right-to-organize", "Wyden Backs Legislation to Empower Tenants\u2019 Right to Organize", "2024-09-23", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined in introducing a crucial bill that would empower tenants to organize, participate in, and operate tenant organizations without fear of retaliation or interference in Oregon and nationwide.\n\nThe Tenants\u2019 Right to Organize Act, led by Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., would amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 to support the formation of tenant organizations and provide additional funding to ensure tenants have a stronger voice in advocating for their rights and addressing their living conditions.\n\n\u201cPeople shouldn\u2019t be punished just for speaking up when they are living in unsanitary conditions or struggling to afford their rent and make ends meet,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cTenants asking for fair treatment in their own homes should have the right to advocate together, just as workers do. This bill will give tenants the protections to stand up for themselves as our country faces a housing crisis.\u201d\n\nOnly some tenants living in federally supported housing have a legally recognized right to organize without fear of retaliation. This unfair distinction leaves Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher recipients and residents of federally-assisted units in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties without the ability to organize and address housing concerns. Empowering the millions of these tenants in rent-restricted units with the ability to organize promotes stronger, more robust communities and can help improve housing outcomes and reduce eviction filings.\n\nKey elements of the Tenants\u2019 Right to Organize Act are as follows:\n\nExpanded protections for tenant organizing: The bill guarantees families receiving tenant-based rental assistance the right to establish and participate in legitimate tenant organizations to address issues such as the terms and conditions of their tenancy and other housing and community development activities.\n\nPreventing retaliation and protecting tenant activities: The bill protects tenants from eviction or harassment in response to their participation in legitimate tenant organizations or exercising their rights.\n\nAccountability and enforcement for federal funding recipients: The bill requires public housing agencies and owners to recognize legitimate tenant organizations and respond meaningfully to their concerns. It also requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury to establish enforcement protocols, including complaint-filing processes, investigation of abuses, and regular reporting to Congress to ensure compliance.\n\nFunding and support for tenant organizations: The bill provides dedicated funding to support tenant organizing and capacity building, ensuring tenants have the resources and training needed to advocate for their rights effectively.\n\nAlong with Wyden, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. The House companion to this legislation was introduced by Representative Delia C. Ramirez, D-Ill.\n\nThis bill has been endorsed by the National Housing Law Project, Poverty & Race Research Action Council, Mobility Works, National Low-Income Housing Coalition, Tenant Union Representative Network, Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania, PA Fair Housing of the Capital Region, PA Fair Housing of Greater Pittsburgh, Liberation in a Generation, Policy Link, Center for Popular Democracy Action, PA Stands Up, Housing Action Illinois, and LOFTE Network, including Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, Tenants Union of Washington State, the George Wiley Center, Greater Newark HUD Tenants Coalition, Arkansas Community Organizations, Greater Syracuse Tenants Network, New York Tenants and Neighbors, AIDS Healthcare Foundation/Housing Is a Human Right (Los Angeles), Metropolitan Tenants Organization (Chicago), United Community Housing Coalition (Detroit), and HOMELine (Minnesota).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:46:43Z"]], "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://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-backs-legislation-to-empower-tenants-right-to-organize"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9719519875943661, "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"}