Biden says Justice Department to defend Puerto Rico benefit exclusion

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US Justice Department will defend in court Puerto Rico's exclusion from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, US President Joe Biden said on Monday.

Biden maintained that the US territory's exclusion from the program "violates the Constitution’s equal protection principle," but said he would not interfere with the Justice Department's "longstanding practice of defending the constitutionality of federal statutes."

The US president instead called on Congress to overhaul the provision in the Social Security Act that prohibits Puerto Rico residents from receiving SSI, which provides cash benefits for the elderly and individuals with disabilities.

"I believe that Puerto Rico residents should be able to receive SSI benefits, just like their fellow Americans in all 50 states and Washington D.C.," he said in a statement.

"I call on Congress to amend the Social Security Act to extend these benefits to residents of Puerto Rico. And as I reiterated in my first budget request, I also support eliminating Medicaid funding caps for Puerto Rico and moving toward parity for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to align with States," he added.

Puerto Rico has been a US territory since the late 19th century, with US citizenship being extended to residents in 1917.

In November, a slim majority of Puerto Rico residents -- 52% -- voted for the territory to become a full US state.