What This Bill Does
This bill extends the Supplemental Security Income program (a federal benefit program for elderly, blind and disabled people with limited income) to Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa. The bill makes changes to how the Social Security Act treats these territories under the program.
Who It Affects
Elderly, blind and disabled people in Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa who qualify for Supplemental Security Income benefits. The Commissioner of Social Security and territory governments also are affected by implementation requirements.
Key Provisions
• Four territories are added to the definition of "state" in the Supplemental Security Income program: Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa (Sec. 2(b)(1))
• Limits on total payments to territories under the Supplemental Security Income program are removed (Sec. 2(b)(2))
• United States nationals (people who owe allegiance to the United States but are not citizens) receive the same treatment as citizens in the Supplemental Security Income program (Sec. 2(b)(3))
• The four territories are included in the geographic meaning of "United States" for purposes of the Supplemental Security Income program (Sec. 2(b)(4))
• The Commissioner of Social Security can waive or modify program requirements in these territories if necessary to adapt the program to local needs (Sec. 2(c))
What Changes
Residents of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa become eligible for the Supplemental Security Income program. Previously, these territories were excluded from the program. The payment limits that previously applied to these territories are eliminated.
Important Definitions
None defined in the bill text.
Effective Date
The first day of the first federal fiscal year that begins 1 year or more after the bill becomes law (Sec. 2(d))
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 256
To extend the supplemental security income program to Puerto Rico, the
United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 10, 2023
Miss GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N
(for herself, Mr. TORRES
of New York, Ms.
PLASKETT, Mr. MOYLAN, Mr. SOTO, and Mr. SABLAN) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To extend the supplemental security income program to
Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam,
and American Samoa, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supplemental Security
4
Income Equality Act’’.
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•HR 256 IH
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY IN-
1
COME PROGRAM TO PUERTO RICO, THE
2
UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS, GUAM, AND
3
AMERICAN SAMOA.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303 of the Social Security
5
Amendments of 1972 (86 Stat. 1484) is amended by strik-
6
ing subsection (b).
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(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
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(1)
DEFINITION
OF
STATE.—Section
9
1101(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
10
1301(a)(1)) is amended by striking the 5th sentence
11
and inserting the following: ‘‘Such term when used
12
in title XVI includes Puerto Rico, the United States
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Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.’’.
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(2) ELIMINATION
OF
LIMIT
ON
TOTAL
PAY-
15
MENTS
TO
THE
TERRITORIES.—Section 1108 of
16
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended—
17
(A) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘;
18
LIMITATION ON TOTAL PAYMENTS’’;
19
(B) by striking subsection (a); and
20
(C) in subsection (c), by striking para-
21
graphs (2) and (4) and redesignating para-
22
graphs (3) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (4),
23
respectively.
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•HR 256 IH
(3) UNITED STATES NATIONALS TREATED THE
1
SAME AS CITIZENS.—Section 1614(a)(1)(B) of such
2
Act (42 U.S.C. 1382c(a)(1)(B)) is amended—
3
(A) in clause (i)(I), by inserting ‘‘or na-
4
tional,’’ after ‘‘citizen’’;
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(B) in clause (i)(II), by adding ‘‘; or’’ at
6
the end; and
7
(C) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘or na-
8
tional’’ after ‘‘citizen’’.
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(4) TERRITORIES
INCLUDED
IN
GEOGRAPHIC
10
MEANING OF UNITED STATES.—Section 1614(e) of
11
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382c(e)) is amended by strik-
12
ing ‘‘and the District of Columbia’’ and inserting ‘‘,
13
the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United
14
States
Virgin
Islands,
Guam,
and
American
15
Samoa’’.
16
(c) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Commissioner of So-
17
cial Security may waive or modify any statutory require-
18
ment relating to the provision of benefits under the Sup-
19
plemental Security Income Program under title XVI of the
20
Social Security Act in Puerto Rico, the United States Vir-
21
gin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa, to the extent that
22
the Commissioner deems it necessary in order to adapt
23
the program to the needs of the territory involved.
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•HR 256 IH
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend-
1
ments made by this section shall take effect on the 1st
2
day of the 1st Federal fiscal year that begins 1 year or
3
more after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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Æ
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