04/20/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/20/2021 13:55
Washington, D.C. - Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have unveiled legislation that would help Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa gain more equitable access to federal programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, and popular tax credits.
'As it stands, the people of Puerto Rico and the other U.S. territories are not afforded the same access to federal funds as states on the Mainland,' said Velázquez. 'This is not only morally wrong but has delegated residents to a second-class status and exasperated social and economic inequalities. That is why I'm proud to partner with Senator Sanders to introduce this bill that takes the bold action needed to extend critical federal assistance to the territories.'
'The people of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.' Sanders said. 'The legislation we're introducing today stops unequal treatment of the territories, and will put an end to inequities in federal law that have allowed too many to fall behind in almost every measurable social and economic outcome.'
The Territorial Equity Act of 2021 would:
The House version is co-sponsored by Representatives: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY); Ritchie Torres (D-NY); and Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ).
The text of the bill is available here.
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