II 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2051 

To extend eligibility for certain Federal benefits to citizens of the Freely 

Associated States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 17, 2005 

Mr. AKAKA (for himself and Mr. INOUYE) introduced the following bill; which 

was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance 

A BILL 

To extend eligibility for certain Federal benefits to citizens 

of the Freely Associated States. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. EXCEPTION FOR CITIZENS OF FREELY ASSOCI4 ATED STATES. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal 

6 Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 

7 of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) is amended by adding at 

8 the end the following: 

9 ‘‘(M) EXCEPTION FOR CITIZENS OF FREE10 LY ASSOCIATED STATES.—With respect to eligi-
2 

•S 2051 IS

1 bility for benefits for the specified Federal pro2 grams described in paragraph (3), paragraph 

3 (1) shall not apply to any individual who law4 fully resides in the United States (including ter5 ritories and possessions of the United States) in 

6 accordance with— 

7 ‘‘(i) section 141 of the Compact of 

8 Free Association between the Government 

9 of the United States and the Government 

10 of the Federated States of Micronesia, ap11 proved by Congress in the Compact of 

12 Free Association Amendments Act of 

13 2003; 

14 ‘‘(ii) section 141 of the Compact of 

15 Free Association between the Government 

16 of the United States and the Government 

17 of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 

18 approved by Congress in the Compact of 

19 Free Association Amendments Act of 

20 2003; or 

21 ‘‘(iii) section 141 of the Compact of 

22 Free Association between the Government 

23 of the United States and the Government 

24 of Palau, approved by Congress in Public 

25 Law 99–658 (100 Stat. 3672).’’. 
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•S 2051 IS

1 (b) MEDICAID AND TANF EXCEPTIONS.—Section 

2 402(b)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Oppor3 tunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(b)(2)) 

4 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(G) MEDICAID AND TANF EXCEPTIONS

6 FOR CITIZENS OF FREELY ASSOCIATED

7 STATES.—With respect to eligibility for benefits 

8 for the programs defined in subparagraphs (A) 

9 and (C) of paragraph (3) (relating to temporary 

10 assistance for needy families and medicaid), 

11 paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual 

12 who lawfully resides in the United States (in13 cluding territories and possessions of the 

14 United States) in accordance with a Compact of 

15 Free Association referred to in subsection 

16 (a)(2)(M).’’. 

17 (c) QUALIFIED ALIEN.—Section 431(b) of the Per18 sonal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation 

19 Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641(b)) is amended— 

20 (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 

21 end; 

22 (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at 

23 the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 

24 (3) by adding at the end the following: 
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•S 2051 IS

1 ‘‘(8) an individual who lawfully resides in the 

2 United States (including territories and possessions 

3 of the United States) in accordance with a Compact 

4 of Free Association referred to in section 

5 402(a)(2)(M).’’. 

6 (d) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 1108 of the 

7 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended— 

8 (1) in subsection (f), in the matter preceding 

9 paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘subsection (g)’’ and in10 serting ‘‘subsections (g) and (h)’’; and 

11 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘(h) The limitations of subsections (f) and (g) shall 

13 not apply with respect to medical assistance provided to 

14 an individual described in section 431(b)(8) of the Per15 sonal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation 

16 Act of 1996.’’. 

17 (e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 

18 this Act take effect on the date of enactment of this Act 

19 and apply to benefits and assistance provided on or after 

20 that date. 

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