Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), alongside Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), is introducing a bill to ban privatized housing contractors from silencing military families.
What does this bill do? Known as the Restore Military Families’ Voices Act, this bill would ban housing contractors from requesting these families to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).
What lawmakers are saying:
- Sen. Ossoff: “Privatized housing companies have abused non-disclosure agreements to take advantage of servicemembers and military families. I am introducing this bill to ensure that servicemembers and their families have quality housing and can freely report unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation.”
- Sen. Warren: “Too often, American military families are living in unsafe or unacceptable living conditions but are silenced or afraid to speak out. This bill will expand protections for military families, ensuring that they have access to adequate housing and do not have to fear retaliation for requesting the treatment they deserve.”
- Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA): “It’s unconscionable that landlords can hide behind Non-Disclosure Agreements to avoid responsibility for substandard privatized military housing and take advantage of their tenants... That’s why we need to pass the Restore Military Families’ Voices Act to prevent landlords from abusing NDAs and providing unsafe conditions to our military families.”
Context: While it’s currently illegal for privatized housing contractors to require tenants to sign NDAs, landlords are still allowed to request their tenants to sign one
These NDAs are often used to silence tenants and help contractors avoid responsibility when they fail to provide adequate housing.
The use of NDAs also makes it harder for Congress to conduct oversight of these companies because tenants are reluctant to share information for fear of retribution.
The bill would also close loopholes that allow landlords to require NDAs for legal settlements, strengthen protections for housing whistleblowers, and expand protections for tenants.
Rep. Jacobs was responsible for leading the introduction of the bill to the House of Representatives.
Private landlords are using NDAs to silence servicemembers and military families about the terrible housing conditions these companies created.@RepSaraJacobs and I have a bill to end this abuse and empower military families to hold bad landlords accountable. https://t.co/FiAf542yr3
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) October 7, 2024
