Bill Details
View committees (1)
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would make Guam part of the federal Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, program. SSI is a benefits program for people with low income who are age 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Right now, Guam is not included in the same way as the states and some other U.S. areas. The bill would change federal law so people in Guam could receive SSI, and it would also let the Social Security Administration make needed adjustments so the program can work properly there. The changes would start at the beginning of the first federal fiscal year that begins at least one year after the bill becomes law.
- It removes Guam from older legal language that excluded it from SSI coverage and updates related Social Security rules.
- It gives the Social Security Commissioner power to waive or change certain requirements if needed to fit Guam’s local needs.
- It also makes technical changes to other parts of the Social Security Act so the law matches the new SSI coverage for Guam.
Official Summaries
Katrina and Leslie Schaller Act
This bill extends the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to include Guam. (SSI is a federal assistance program designed to help aged, blind, and disabled individuals with limited income and resources meet their basic needs. Guam has been excluded from SSI since Congress created the program in 1972.)
Under the bill, the Social Security Administration may waive or modify statutory requirements relating to the provision of SSI benefits as necessary to adapt the program to the needs of Guam.
The bill also eliminates an existing cap on payments to Guam under SSI, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, and other assistance programs.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 878 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 878
To extend the supplemental security income program to Guam, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 31, 2025
Mr. Moylan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To extend the supplemental security income program to Guam, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Katrina and Leslie Schaller Act''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME PROGRAM TO GUAM.
(a) In General.--Section 303(b) of the Social Security Amendments
of 1972 (86 Stat. 1484) is amended by striking ``, Guam,''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Guam included in definition of ``state'' for purposes
of certain programs.--Section 1101(a)(1) of the Social Security
Act (42 U.S.C. 1301(a)(1)) is amended in the 5th sentence, by
striking ``, the Virgin Islands, and Guam'' each place it
appears and inserting ``and the Virgin Islands''.
(2) Elimination of limit on total payments to guam under
certain programs.--Section 1108 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is
amended--
(A) in the section heading, by striking ``,
guam,''; and
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``,
Guam,''; and
(ii) in paragraph (4), by striking
subparagraph (B) and redesignating
subparagraphs (C) and (D) as subparagraphs (B)
and (C), respectively.
(3) Guam included in geographic meaning of united states
under the ssi program.--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 and
Guam''.
(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 Guam, to the extent that the Commissioner
deems it necessary in order to adapt the program to the needs of Guam.
(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.
<all>