NEWS: Casar, Ramirez, & Colleagues Introduce Tenants’ Right to Organize Act

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35) joined Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) and Representatives Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), in introducing H.R. 5827, the Tenants' Right to Organize Act. 

As tenant unions across the nation are changing the reality of the current housing landscape, the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act aims to amplify their efforts by:

• Protecting the organizing rights of tenants with Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) and tenants living in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties.
• Expanding protections to mixed-status families and those who may not be eligible for tenant-based rental assistance.

 Currently, only public housing tenants have a legally recognized right to organize. By extending this right to HVC and LIHTC tenants, the bill acknowledges that all tenants deserve decent, safe, stable, and sanitary housing. 

“Across our country, renters deserve the right to work together to ask for lower rent and fees,” said Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas). “People shouldn’t have the police called on them, or be worried that their lease is going to be canceled, just because they’re coming together to collectively ask for improvements to their housing or lower rents. As an Austin City Council member, the final policy that I passed was to establish a right to organize for all tenants. Now, it’s time to begin extending that right nationwide.”

“Throughout our nation, from big cities like Chicago to smaller cities, tenants have recognized the power they wield when they come together. Tenant organizing is not only winning battles against unfair housing practices, unjustified evictions, housing discrimination, and uncontrolled price hikes; it is also changing housing public policy. Community organizing power protects the right to safe, stable housing for thousands of families,” said Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.). “The fight for safe, stable, equitable housing must always include tenants. As we are encountering a worsening housing affordability and access crisis, we understand that now, more than ever, all tenants must have the right to organize. I am honored to lead my friends and colleagues, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, and Rep. Greg Casar, in the introduction of the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act, a historic measure to protect and expand the community power changing the landscape of housing for everyone.”

“I founded the first-ever Renters Caucus this year because every person deserves a safe and affordable place to live,” said Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.). This bill supports our mission by empowering tenants in federally assisted properties to be able to organize and defend their rights without fear of retaliation. I’m proud to join Representatives Ramirez, Pressley, Tlaib, and Casar on this effort to protect our nation’s renters.” 

“As the daughter of a tenants’ rights organizer, I learned firsthand how essential it is that tenants be able to advocate for a safe and healthy place to call home,” said Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.). “Our bill would protect and expand this right and enable tenants to hold landlords accountable and demand better living conditions. I’m proud to partner with my colleagues on a bill to affirm safe and stable housing as the human right that it is.”

“Housing is a human right, and everyone deserves shelter that is safe, affordable, and properly maintained,” said Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). “Tenant organizations allow residents to protect their rights, hold their landlords accountable, and ensure that their basic needs are met. That’s why I’m proud to join Representatives Ramirez and Pressley in reintroducing this bill to ensure that Housing Choice Voucher and LIHTC tenants can organize without fear of retaliation or harassment. All renters, including those in federally assisted properties, deserve the right to organize and truly have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives.”

The bill has the endorsement of local and national organizations, like Housing is a Human Right, National Housing Law Project, National Low-Income Housing Coalition, People’s Action Home Guarantee Campaign, Leaders and Organizers for Tenant Empowerment (LOFTE) Network, Lugenia Burns Hope Center, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Housing Action Illinois, Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, Tenants Union of Washington State, Coalition for Economic Survival (CES)-Los Angeles, Arkansas Community Organizations, Greater Syracuse Tenants Network, Long Beach Residents Empowered (LIBRE), Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco, Housing Justice League of Atlanta, HOMELine of Minnesota, and the AFSC Atlanta Economic Justice Program. 

The full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

A one-pager can be found HERE. 

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Congressman Greg Casar represents Texas’s 35th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which runs down I-35 from East Austin to Hays County to the West Side of San Antonio.  A labor organizer and son of Mexican immigrants, Casar serves as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus for the 118th Congress. He also serves on the Committee on Oversight and Accountability and the Committee on Agriculture.