Joe Biden calls to extend SSI benefit to Puerto Rico "There can be no second-class citizens in the United States," the president said.

By TELEMUNDO PR - Published on June 07, 2021 - Updated at 4:57 pm on June 07, 2021

Here is the news

United States (U.S.) President Joe Biden called on Congress to extend Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to Puerto Rico.

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

Lee | Biden Includes Puerto Rico In Federal Medicaid Plan; "Equal Treatment," Pierluisi Says

"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 the Island, and moving toward parity so that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is aligned with the states."

"As I said before, there can be no second-class citizens in the United States of America," he said.

The federal Justice Department defended before the U.S. Court the exclusion of the Puerto Ricans. "The (Justice) provision is incompatible with the policies and values of my Administration," it concluded.

Pedro Pierluisi thanked Biden for " reaffirming his position that American citizens in Puerto Rico should participate equally in the important Supplemental Security Income program.