NHCSL Reacts to President Biden's Renewed Call for Parity for All US Territories in Medicaid, SNAP & and SSI: “This is a Huge Deal”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After many years of advocacy alongside sister organizations to extend to U.S. citizens living in the five territories the same benefits they should have always been entitled to access as taxpayers, the renewed push unveiled today by President Biden includes parity in three crucial social net programs: Medicaid, SNAP, and Supplemental Security Income.

The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), a longstanding advocate for the issue, released the following statement:

“This is a huge deal, and a correction to years of discrimination and treating Americans outside of the Mainland as second class citizens.

“We want to thank President Biden for his efforts to enact this into law, as well as Sen. Schumer (NY), Sen. Gillibrand (NY), Sen. Patty Murray (WA) and Rep. Nydia Vázquez (NY), for their relentless advocacy and efforts. We will strongly support the President’s efforts as this makes its way through Congress to ensure it finally becomes a reality, as we have long advocated for; especially after Hurricane Maria in 2017, when sounding the alarm on how deficient and damaging the lack of a parity is became urgent.

“Our Caucus approved Res. 2022-03, Res. 2021-10, and Res. 2018-11, among many other conversations, meetings, and convenings we have held to discuss these issues and promote policy solutions like the ones we’re seeing today from President Biden.

“An unrealistic and stingy fixed funding, like the one allocated for Medicaid for Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, never solved pressing healthcare needs for thousands of people. We are also advocating for parity in Medicare, given how the current allocations are keeping the quality of care subpar and on an unequal, short and tight leash for many and out of reach for many more, despite Puerto Rico residents paying for full Medicare.

“This same situation shaped the Nutritional Assistance Program (NAP) available in the territories. Unlike the less stingy Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), available for people in the Mainland, NAP’s budget was fixed and not based on need, always playing catch-up, and stretched even further after natural disasters.

“We’re elated that finally, 124 years after Puerto Rico became part of the United States, citizens in the island —as well as in Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands— who have since been taxed but not represented, will have access to the same social net benefits as their families, communities and virtually everyone else living in the Mainland have access to. Benefits they have contributed to pay for, but have not fully received, even in times of dire need.”

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The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) is the premier national association of Hispanic state legislators working to design and implement policies and procedures that will improve the quality of life for Hispanics throughout the country. NHCSL was founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to be the most effective voice for the more than 450 Hispanic legislators. For more information visit www.nhcsl.org.