Katrina and Leslie Schaller Act

Bill: 119-hr-878
Sponsor: full_name: Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]
Introduced: 2025-01-31
Policy area: Social Welfare
Subjects: Disability assistance

Guam

Poverty and welfare assistance

U.S. territories and protectorates
Latest action: action_date: 2025-01-31
text: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-01-31
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Katrina and Leslie Schaller Act</strong></p><p>This bill extends the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program to include Guam. (SSI&nbsp;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.)</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p>

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 878 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Katrina and Leslie Schaller Act . 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.