Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Supplemental Security Income Equality Act”.
Supplemental Security Income Equality Act
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.
Sec. 2 Extension of the supplemental security income program to Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa
In general— Section 303 of the Social Security Amendments of 1972 (86 Stat. 1484) is amended by striking subsection (b).
Conforming amendments—
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.”.
Elimination of limit on total payments to the territories— Section 1108 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended—
in the section heading, by striking “; limitation on total payments”;
by striking subsection (a); and
in subsection (c), by striking paragraphs (2) and (4) and redesignating paragraphs (3) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (4), respectively.
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—
in clause (i)(I), by inserting “or national,” after “citizen”;
in clause (i)(II), by adding “; or” at the end; and
in clause (ii), by inserting “or national” after “citizen”.
Territories included in geographic meaning of 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”.
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.
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.