I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 947 
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 
FEBRUARY 4, 2019 
Miss GONZA´LEZ-COLO´N of Puerto Rico (for herself, Mr. SERRANO, Mrs. 
RADEWAGEN, Mr. SOTO, Ms. PLASKETT, Mr. SABLAN, and Mr. SAN 
NICOLAS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supplemental Security 
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Income Equality Act’’. 
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•HR 947 IH
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY IN-
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COME PROGRAM TO PUERTO RICO, THE 
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UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS, GUAM, AND 
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AMERICAN SAMOA. 
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303 of the Social Security 
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Amendments of 1972 (86 Stat. 1484) is amended by strik-
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ing subsection (b). 
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(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
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(1) 
DEFINITION
OF
STATE.—Section 
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1101(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
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1301(a)(1)) is amended by striking the 5th sentence 
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and inserting the following: ‘‘Such term when used 
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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-
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MENTS
TO
THE
TERRITORIES.—Section 1108 of 
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such Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended— 
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(A) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘; 
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LIMITATION ON TOTAL PAYMENTS’’; 
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(B) by striking subsection (a); and 
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(C) in subsection (c), by striking para-
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graphs (2) and (4) and redesignating para-
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graphs (3) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (4), 
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respectively. 
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•HR 947 IH
(3) UNITED STATES NATIONALS TREATED THE 
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SAME AS CITIZENS.—Section 1614(a)(1)(B) of such 
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Act (42 U.S.C. 1382c(a)(1)(B)) is amended— 
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(A) in clause (i)(I), by inserting ‘‘or na-
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tional,’’ after ‘‘citizen’’; 
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(B) in clause (i)(II), by adding ‘‘; or’’ at 
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the end; and 
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(C) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘or na-
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tional’’ after ‘‘citizen’’. 
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(4) TERRITORIES
INCLUDED
IN
GEOGRAPHIC 
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MEANING OF UNITED STATES.—Section 1614(e) of 
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such Act (42 U.S.C. 1382c(e)) is amended by strik-
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ing ‘‘and the District of Columbia’’ and inserting ‘‘, 
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the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United 
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States 
Virgin 
Islands, 
Guam, 
and 
American 
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Samoa’’. 
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(c) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Commissioner of So-
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cial Security may waive or modify any statutory require-
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ment relating to the provision of benefits under the Sup-
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plemental Security Income Program under title XVI of the 
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Social Security Act in Puerto Rico, the United States Vir-
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gin Islands, Guam, or American Samoa, to the extent that 
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the Commissioner deems it necessary in order to adapt 
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the program to the needs of the territory involved. 
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•HR 947 IH
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section and the amend-
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ments made by this section shall take effect on the 1st 
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day of the 1st Federal fiscal year that begins 1 year or 
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more after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
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Æ 
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