Chair Grijalva: We Need a Permanent Fix for U.S. Territories’ Access to Federal Benefits, and I’m Going to Work With Colleagues to Pass One

Washington, D.C. – Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement today on the need for a legislative solution to the unequal access to federal benefits for U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals living in the insular territories.

“Given the administration’s announcement today that it will appeal U.S. v. Vaello Madero to the Supreme Court, the Natural Resources Committee will redouble its efforts to work with other committees of jurisdiction to expand access to Supplemental Security Income and other federal programs for residents of U.S. territories. I have urged the new administration to guarantee equity in federal programs to Americans living in these jurisdictions, and today’s announcement has done nothing to change my conviction that a permanent solution is necessary. Expanding access to federal programs for residents of U.S. territories, including Supplemental Security Income for residents of Puerto Rico, is one of my top priorities in this Congress.”

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