[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1632 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
1st Session
S. 1632
To extend eligibility for certain Federal benefits to citizens of the
Freely Associated States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 17, 2003
Mr. Akaka (for himself and Mr. Inouye) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To extend eligibility for certain Federal benefits to citizens of the
Freely Associated States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXCEPTION FOR CITIZENS OF FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES.
(a) In General.--Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(M) Exception for citizens of freely associated
states.--With respect to eligibility for benefits for
the specified Federal programs described in
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3), paragraph
(1) shall not apply to any individual who lawfully
resides in the United States (including territories and
possessions of the United States) in accordance with--
``(i) section 141 of the Compact of Free
Association between the Government of the
United States and the Government of the
Federated States of Micronesia, approved by
Congress in the Compact of Free Association
Amendments Act of 2003;
``(ii) section 141 of the Compact of Free
Association between the Government of the
United States and the Government of the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, approved by
Congress in the Compact of Free Association
Amendments Act of 2003; or
``(iii) section 141 of the Compact of Free
Association between the Government of the
United States and the Government of Palau,
approved by Congress in Public Law 99-658 (100
Stat. 3672).''.
(b) Medicaid and TANF Exceptions.--Section 402(b)(2) of the
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
(8 U.S.C. 1612(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(G) Medicaid exception for citizens of freely
associated states.--With respect to eligibility for
benefits for the program defined in paragraph (3)(C)
(relating to the medicaid program), section 401(a) and
paragraph (1) shall not apply to any individual who
lawfully resides in the United States (including
territories and possessions of the United States) in
accordance with a Compact of Free Association referred
to in section 402(a)(2)(M).
``(H) TANF exception for citizens of freely
associated states.--With respect to eligibility for
benefits for the program defined in paragraph (3)(A)
(relating to the temporary assistance for needy
families program), section 401(a) and paragraph (1)
shall not apply to any individual who lawfully resides
in the United States (including territories and
possessions of the United States) in accordance with a
Compact of Free Association referred to in section
402(a)(2)(M).''.
(c) Qualified Alien.--Section 431(b) of the Personal Responsibility
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1641(b)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) an individual who lawfully resides in the United
States (including territories and possessions of the United
States) in accordance with a Compact of Free Association
referred to in section 402(a)(2)(M).''.
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