Congressman James Moylan, in a bipartisan effort with Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands), Congresswoman Aumua Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa), and Congressman Pablo José Hernández (D-Puerto Rico), has reintroduced the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Equality Act—a measure that would extend SSI benefits to eligible residents of Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.

Currently, the federal SSI program—designed to support aged, blind, and disabled individuals with limited income—is only available to residents of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

“This is about equality—plain and simple,” said Congressman Moylan. “Americans living in the territories should not be treated as second-class citizens. By reintroducing this bipartisan bill, we are standing up for the principle that geography should never determine access to basic federal support.”

Congresswoman Plaskett emphasized the strain territorial governments face without federal SSI funding. “Without federal SSI support, territorial governments are forced to shoulder these costs alone… This legislation represents a critical step toward ending the second-class treatment of Americans in the territories.”

Congresswoman Radewagen added, “SSI is an essential service that should not be determined by geography,” while Congressman Hernández highlighted that 22% of Puerto Ricans live with disabilities and are unfairly excluded from this program.

The bill aims to correct decades of disparity by making SSI benefits accessible to all Americans—regardless of where they live.

Congressman Moylan concluded by thanking his colleagues and reaffirming his commitment to seeing the bill through the legislative process.