Results for

  • Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa College Access Act

    HR #2465 | Last Action: 5/1/2019
    Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa College Access Act This bill establishes a grant program to cover the difference between in-state tuition and out-of-state tuition for students who are from either the Northern Mariana Islands or American Samoa and who attend a public institution of higher education in a different state or territory. The Government Accountability Office must report on the program's effectiveness in expanding educational opportunities for such students.
  • To amend title 10, United States Code, to include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa in the definition of "State" for purposes of the Department of Defense STARBASE Program.

    HR #6786 | Last Action: 5/8/2020
    This bill includes the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa in the Department of Defense's STARBASE Program (an educational program conducted on military bases).
  • To amend title 13, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a mid-decade census of population for the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and for other purposes.

    HR #2773 | Last Action: 5/15/2019
    This bill directs the Department of Commerce, in 2025 and every 10 years thereafter, to take a mid-decade census of population of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to waive certain requirements for naturalization for American Samoan United States nationals to become United States citizens, and for other purposes.

    HR #1208 | Last Action: 2/13/2019
    This bill establishes that a U.S. national who otherwise qualifies may become a citizen upon establishing residence and physical presence in a U.S. outlying possession (i.e. America Samoa and Swains Island). Currently, U.S. nationals must become a resident of a state to qualify for naturalization. Individuals born in an outlying possession are U.S. nationals but do not automatically acquire citizenship through birth in an outlying possession. The bill also waives certain naturalization requirements, including those related to English language proficiency and participation in a public ceremony, for individuals who have continuously resided in an outlying possession or state from birth to the approval of a naturalization application. The Department of Interior may issue a grant to America Samoa for holding a referendum on whether those born or residing in America Samoa should be declared U.S. citizens.
  • Employment Services and Jobs Parity Act of 2019

    HR #4743 | Last Action: 10/18/2019
    Employment Services and Jobs Parity Act of 2019 This bill includes for purposes of the Federal Employment Service, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.
  • Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2019

    S #677 | Last Action: 3/6/2019
    Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2019 This 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) after submitting a plan of operation that is approved by the Department of Agriculture. (Under current law, the three territories receive block grants instead of participating in SNAP.)
  • Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2019

    HR #1576 | Last Action: 4/3/2019
    Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2019 This 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) after submitting a plan of operation that is approved by the Department of Agriculture. (Under current law, the three territories receive block grants instead of participating in SNAP.)
  • Civil Rights Commission Territorial Equality Act of 2019

    HR #4068 | Last Action: 8/28/2019
    Civil Rights Commission Territorial Equality Act of 2019 This bill requires the Commission on Civil Rights to establish at least one advisory committee in each of the following territories, composed of persons domiciled in such territories: Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
  • Lonnie Kilpatrick Central Pacific Relief Act

    HR #1713 | Last Action: 3/13/2019
    Lonnie Kilpatrick Central Pacific Relief Act This bill provides a presumption of service-connection for diseases associated with exposure to certain herbicide agents to veterans who served on (1) Guam or American Samoa, or in the territorial waters thereof between January 9, 1962, and July 31, 1980; or (2) Johnston Atoll or a ship that went to Johnston Atoll between January 1, 1972, and September 30, 1977. Under a presumption of service-connection, specific diseases diagnosed in certain veterans are presumed to have been caused by the circumstances of their military service. Health care benefits and disability compensation may then be awarded. Additionally, the bill expands eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans with a disability associated with exposure to certain herbicides during specified times of military service on Guam, American Samoa, or Johnston Atoll.
  • To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for payments to possessions of the United States related to the application of the earned income tax credit in such possessions.

    HR #3307 | Last Action: 6/18/2019
    This bill directs the Department of the Treasury to make payments to specified U.S. possessions (i.e., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa), beginning in 2020 and each calendar year thereafter, for expenditures made by such possessions relating to the earned income tax credit.
  • Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2020

    S #3934 | Last Action: 6/10/2020
    Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2020 This 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) after submitting a plan of operation that is approved by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). (Under current law, the three territories receive block grants instead of participating in SNAP.) Such territories may request from USDA a one-time grant to pay the cost of the technology infrastructure necessary to implement SNAP, including the cost of information technology, information technology personnel, and training relating to program implementation.
  • Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2020

    HR #6846 | Last Action: 8/13/2020
    Equitable Nutrition Assistance for the Territories Act of 2020 This 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) after submitting a plan of operation that is approved by the Department of Agriculture (USDA). (Under current law, the three territories receive block grants instead of participating in SNAP.) Such territories may request from USDA a one-time grant to pay the cost of the technology infrastructure necessary to implement SNAP, including the cost of information technology, information technology personnel, and training relating to program implementation.
  • To waive certain provisions in the case of an emergency declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.

    HR #6465 | Last Action: 4/7/2020
    This bill waives Buy American requirements (requirements for the use of goods mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States) in the case of an emergency declaration, with respect to purchases made or contracts issued by Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Contracting Credit Equality Act of 2019

    HR #3428 | Last Action: 6/21/2019
    Contracting Credit Equality Act of 2019 This bill authorizes federal agencies to double the value of contracts awarded to small businesses in the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands for the purpose of obtaining credit towards the small business contracting goal.
  • Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020

    S #3719 | Last Action: 5/13/2020
    Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2020 This bill revises the requirements for calculating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) benefits. The bill increases the minimum SNAP benefit and requires benefits to be calculated using the value of a low-cost food plan. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) must determine the requirements for the low-cost food plan, which is the diet required to feed a family of four, consisting of * a man and a woman 19-50 years of age, * a child 6-8 years of age, and * a child 9-11 years of age. USDA must make adjustments to the plan to account for household size, changes in the cost of the diet, and the costs of food in specified areas, including U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and American Samoa. The bill modifies the requirements for calculating household income to determine SNAP eligibility by (1) authorizing a standard medical expense deduction for households containing an elderly or disabled member, and (2) eliminating the cap on the deduction for excess shelter expenses. The bill eliminates certain work requirements for SNAP. The requirements apply to able-bodied adults who are ages 18-49 and have no dependent children. Under current law, the requirements are partially suspended due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). The bill allows Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands to participate in SNAP after submitting a plan of operation that is approved by USDA. Under current law, the three territories receive block grants instead of participating in SNAP.
  • LWCF Parity for Territories and DC Act

    HR #1353 | Last Action: 2/25/2019
    LWCF Parity for Territories and DC Act This bill requires that the same apportionment formula be applied to specified U.S. territories (i.e., Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands) and the District of Columbia as is applied to states with respect to amounts made available for state purposes from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
  • Territorial Representation in the Senate Act

    HR #5526 | Last Action: 12/19/2019
    Territorial Representation in the Senate Act This bill requires that each U.S. territory (American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) be represented in Congress by a nonvoting delegate to the Senate who shall be elected by the people qualified to vote for officials of the territory. Further, the bill establishes qualifications for the office of delegate, authorizes the government of the territory to determine the election procedure, and provides that each delegate shall receive the same compensation, privileges, and immunities as any other member of the Senate.
  • Outlying Area Apprenticeship Expansion Act

    HR #8320 | Last Action: 9/21/2020
    Outlying Area Apprenticeship Expansion Act This bill directs the Department of Labor to make grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and other arrangements available to America Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (the outlying areas) to establish registered apprenticeships under the National Apprenticeship Act or expand opportunities through apprenticeships registered under that Act.
  • To modify certain requirements of LIHEAP for purposes of the use of certain funds appropriated in fiscal year 2020, and for other purposes.

    HR #7662 | Last Action: 7/16/2020
    This bill modifies requirements in FY2020 for the use of certain funds under the the low-income home energy assistance program. Specifically, the bill requires each state, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and each Indian Tribe that receives funding under the program to (1) accept proof of job loss or severe income loss dated after February 29, 2020, such as a layoff or furlough notice or verification of application for unemployment benefits, as sufficient to demonstrate lack of income for an individual or household; and (2) not use more than 12.5% of such funding for administrative costs.