“Activists in Congress”: Rep. Cori Bush helps extend eviction moratorium

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Millions of residents can breathe a sigh of relief after the eviction moratorium was extended — thanks to the efforts of Cori Bush. The Missouri Representative was instrumental in the Biden administration’s decision to extend the eviction moratorium for two more months, to October 2021. 

Representative Bush was laser-focused on supporting the millions of Americans who are affected by the pandemic, including those who have lost their jobs and homes. The freshman representative in Congress went so far as to sleep outside on the steps of the U.S. Capitol for five days to highlight the plight of residents facing eviction and potential homelessness.

Rep. Bush praised for her efforts

“This is why this happened. Being unapologetic. Being unafraid to stand up,” Representative Bush told reporters following several days of sleeping outside in the elements, often in an upright position. Representative Bush was cheered by members of the Democratic Party, including Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) who praised the efforts of Ms. Bush and fellow “squad” member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Representative Bush also made inroads with more mainstream Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who spent the weekend indoors, making calls to the Biden Administration and pushing the CDC to extend the moratorium. 

Representative Bush’s experience sleeping outside was not the first time she has done so in protest of policies that harm citizens. She previously used the tactic to speak out against Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination for Supreme Court justice, in 2018. 

“Activists in Congress”

A former nurse and community organizer, Representative Bush scored an upset primary victory over former Missouri Representative Lacy Clay in 2020, who served in Congress for nearly 20 years. She entered politics following Michael Brown’s death at the hands of law enforcement, and is an unabashed supporter of Black Lives Matter.

Now she is a role model for the citizens who appreciate her hands-on approach to politics. “Activists in Congress — so expect for things to be different than what maybe people are used to,” she said in a press conference on Tuesday. “We don’t have the same eyes, we don’t have the same background or the same agenda as some others.”