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H.R. 4821House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Covering our FAS Allies Act

Sponsored by Tony CárdenasRep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)
Introduced October 23, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 9:01 AM UTC

The Covering our FAS Allies Act would restore Medicaid eligibility for citizens of the Freely Associated States—Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau—who are lawfully living in the United States under the Compacts of Free Association. It changes the 1996 welfare law so these residents can receive Medicaid just like other U.S. citizens, and it adjusts related eligibility and funding rules.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new Medicaid exception that says the usual residency restrictions do not apply to FAS citizens living in any state or D.C. under the Compacts of Free Association.
  • Removes the five‑year limit on Medicaid eligibility for these individuals, allowing them to stay enrolled beyond that period.
  • Expands the definition of “qualified alien” to include FAS citizens for Medicaid purposes.
  • Updates Social Security Act payment‑limit calculations so Medicaid costs for FAS citizens are not counted against state limits.
  • Effective immediately for services provided after the law’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

October 26, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 23, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Energy and Commerce Committee

October 23, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

October 26, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 23, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4821

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 23, 2019

Mr. Cárdenas (for himself, Mrs. Radewagen, Ms. Gabbard, Mr. Womack, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Case, Mr. Sablan, and Mr. San Nicolas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL

To amend title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to restore Medicaid coverage for citizens of the Freely Associated States lawfully residing in the United States under the Compacts of Free Association between the Government of the United States and the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Covering our FAS Allies Act.

2.

Medicaid coverage for citizens of Freely Associated States

(a)

In general

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 new subparagraph:

(G)

Medicaid exception for citizens of Freely Associated States

With respect to eligibility for benefits for the designated Federal 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 1 of the 50 States or the District of Columbia in accordance with the Compacts of Free Association between the Government of the United States and the Governments of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau and shall not apply, at the option of the Governor of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, or American Samoa as communicated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services in writing, to any individual who lawfully resides in the respective territory in accordance with such Compacts.

.

(b)

Exception to 5-Year limited eligibility

Section 403(d) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1613(d)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1), by striking or at the end;

(2)

in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(3)

an individual described in section 402(b)(2)(G), but only with respect to the designated Federal program defined in section 402(b)(3)(C).

.

(c)

Definition of qualified alien

Section 431(b) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1641(b)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (6), by striking ; or at the end and inserting a comma;

(2)

in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting , or; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(8)

an individual who lawfully resides in the United States in accordance with a Compact of Free Association referred to in section 402(b)(2)(G), but only with respect to the designated Federal program defined in section 402(b)(3)(C) (relating to the Medicaid program).

.

(d)

Conforming amendments

Section 1108 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1308) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (f), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking subsection (g) and inserting subsections (g) and (h); and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(h)

Expenditures for medical assistance provided to an individual described in section 431(b)(8) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 shall not be taken into account for purposes of applying payment limits under subsections (f) and (g).

.

(e)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to benefits for items and services furnished on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.