Katrina and Leslie Schaller Act

Bill Number

H.R. 878

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Social Welfare

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-31: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2025-04-28T14:07:43Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Katrina and Leslie Schaller Act (H.R. 878) aims to extend the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program— a federal program that provides financial assistance to low-income elderly, blind, or disabled individuals—to residents of Guam, a U.S. territory. This would make SSI benefits available in Guam for the first time, aligning it more closely with benefits provided in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Key Provisions

• Extension of SSI to Guam: Amends the Social Security Act to remove Guam from the list of exclusions, allowing eligible Guam residents to receive SSI benefits.
• Conforming Amendments:
• Updates the definition of "state" in the Social Security Act to exclude Guam from certain payment limits that previously capped federal funding for territories.
• Includes Guam in the geographic scope of the SSI program, treating it similarly to states for eligibility purposes.
• Waiver Authority: Grants the Commissioner of Social Security flexibility to waive or modify SSI rules as needed to fit Guam's unique needs, such as local economic or administrative conditions.
• Effective Date: The changes take effect on the first day of the first federal fiscal year that begins at least one year after the bill's enactment, providing time for implementation.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Previously, under the Social Security Amendments of 1972, SSI was not available in Guam (or American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands), limiting federal support for vulnerable populations there.
• Removes payment caps and exclusions specific to Guam in sections of the Social Security Act (e.g., Sections 1101 and 1108), allowing full federal funding for SSI in Guam without territorial limits.
• Expands the SSI program's reach by adding Guam to its territorial definitions (Section 1614), shifting from exclusion to inclusion.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Eligible low-income elderly, blind, or disabled Guam residents (estimated at thousands based on similar U.S. demographics) would gain access to monthly cash benefits (up to about $943 for individuals in 2024, adjusted annually), potentially reducing poverty and improving quality of life.
• On Government Agencies: The Social Security Administration (SSA) would need to expand operations to Guam, including outreach, eligibility determinations, and payments, increasing administrative workload and costs (potentially millions annually in new benefits).
• On Guam's Local Government: Could ease pressure on local welfare programs by shifting some responsibility to federal SSI, but might require coordination for implementation.
• Broader Effects: Minimal impact on international relations, as this is a domestic territorial matter; however, it could set a precedent for extending other federal benefits to U.S. territories.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Guam Residents: Primarily low-income elderly, blind, or disabled individuals who would become eligible for SSI, along with their families.
• Social Security Administration: Responsible for administering the program expansion, including rule adaptations and funding distribution.
• Guam Territorial Government: Involved in local coordination and potentially benefiting from reduced strain on territorial assistance programs.
• U.S. Taxpayers: Indirectly affected through increased federal spending on SSI benefits and administration.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens equal treatment under federal law for U.S. territories by extending a key safety-net program, potentially addressing disparities in benefits availability without altering core SSI eligibility rules (e.g., income and asset limits remain the same).
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Territory Clause (Article IV, Section 3) to govern territories and provide uniform benefits, though it highlights ongoing debates about full parity between states and territories.
• Political: Could advance equity for Pacific territories, building bipartisan support for territorial inclusion; however, it raises fiscal concerns about federal budget expansion without offsetting revenue, possibly influencing future debates on territorial status and funding.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-31: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2025-01-31: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-31: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Katrina and Leslie Schaller Act — issued 2025-01-31 — PDF (3 pages)