Government

Bryan Appeals to House Lawmakers For Help With EPA on Refinery's Reopening, Criticizes U.S. Supreme Court Decision Denying SSI Benefits to Territories

Government House said Wednesday that Governor Albert Bryan testified virtually before the U.S. House’s Committee on Natural Resources during a hearing about the Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (DOIOIA) 2023 budget, outlining the territory’s ongoing and new needs from the federal agency. During his written testimony prior to questions from the lawmakers, Governor Bryan decried last month’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that denies equal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to the territories, an issue that also was brought up during questioning by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan). “A disabled American who lives in a State is entitled to receive Supplemental Security Income without regard to geographic location or what taxes are paid. If she moves to the Virgin Islands, she loses that right,” the governor said during his prepared testimony, according to Gov't House. He added, “Territories cannot look to the Constitution of the United States for equal protection ...