July 29, 2025
Mr. Moylan (for himself, Ms. Plaskett, Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Hernández, Ms. King-Hinds, and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
To extend the supplemental security income program to Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Supplemental Security Income Equality Act
.
Sec. 2. Extension of the supplemental security income program to Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa
(a) In general
Section 303 of the Social Security Amendments of 1972 (86 Stat. 1484) is amended by striking subsection (b).
(b) Conforming amendments
(1) Definition of state
Section 1101(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301(a)(1)) is amended by striking the 5th sentence and inserting the following: Such term when used in title XVI includes Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.
.
(2) Elimination of limit on total payments to the territories
Section 1108 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended—
(A)
in the section heading, by striking ; limitation on total payments
;
(B)
by striking subsection (a); and
(C)
in subsection (c), by striking paragraphs (2) and (4) and redesignating paragraphs (3) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (4), respectively.
(3) United States nationals treated the same as citizens
Section 1614(a)(1)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382c(a)(1)(B)) is amended—
(A)
in clause (i)(I), by inserting or national,
after citizen
;
(B)
in clause (i)(II), by adding ; or
at the end; and
(C)
in clause (ii), by inserting or national
after citizen
.
(4) Territories included in geographic meaning of the United States
Section 1614(e) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382c(e)) is amended by striking and the District of Columbia
and inserting , the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa
.
(c) Waiver authority
The Commissioner of Social Security may waive or modify any statutory requirement relating to the provision of benefits under the Supplemental Security Income Program under title XVI of the Social Security Act in Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa, to the extent that the Commissioner deems it necessary in order to adapt the program to the needs of the territory involved.
(d) Effective date
This section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the 1st day of the 1st Federal fiscal year that begins 1 year or more after the date of the enactment of this Act.