Skip to main content
HR 2713 117th Congress House Health American Samoa Appropriations Caribbean area Child health Computers and information technology Congressional oversight Food assistance and relief Government information and archives Guam Health care costs and insurance Health care coverage and access Hospital care Income tax credits Income tax deductions Labor standards Medicaid Medicare Northern Mariana Islands Nutrition and diet

Territorial Equity Act of 2021

Introduced: April 20, 2021 Introduced by: Velázquez, Nydia M. Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 15, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
Apr 21, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Apr 20, 2021
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, Education and Labor, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Apr 20, 2021
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Territorial Equity Act of 2021

This bill alters provisions relating to the treatment of U.S. territories under Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, and other federal assistance programs.

The bill modifies provisions under several health care programs with respect to U.S. territories. Among other changes, the bill

  • eliminates Medicaid funding limitations for U.S. territories beginning in FY2022,
  • repeals provisions that exclude residents of Puerto Rico from a certain automatic enrollment process for Medicare medical services,
  • establishes minimum criteria for certain elements used in Medicare Advantage payment calculations for areas within U.S. territories, and
  • allows residents of U.S. territories who are unable to obtain health insurance through their employer or a health insurance exchange to instead obtain coverage that is at least as broad as the coverage available to Members of Congress and their staff through the District of Columbia exchange.

The bill also modifies provisions under other federal assistance programs. Among other changes, the bill

  • allows Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program);
  • makes residents of Puerto Rico eligible for the federal earned income tax credit; and
  • extends the SSI program to Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
What's happening now June 15, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.

 Committees of jurisdiction 7
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2