♫♫ >>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

>>> GOOD DAY.

AND WELCOME TO "ABLE TO RAISE."

I AM YOUR HOST OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

TODAY WE´RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC, ON A VERY INTERESTING TIME IN OUR EXPERIENCE AS A COUNTRY.

WE´RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A REPORT THAT WILL BE RELEASED THAT TALKS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND TODAY´S GUEST IS JAMES CAMPBELL.

HE IS A JUSTICE, A RECENT GRADUATE OF YALE LAW SCHOOL AND WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE IN PREPARING THIS REPORT.

GOOD DAY.

HOW ARE YOU?

>> I´M DOING GREAT.

AND IT IS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO PUT SOME OF THIS WORK OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND START TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN A REAL ISSUE FOR THIS TERRITORY FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> NOW, LET´S GIVE IT A LITTLE CONTEXT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON ARE ISSUES THAT RELATE TO OUR CLIENT CONSTITUENCY, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

CAN YOU GIVE US, FIRST OF ALL, AN OVERALL CONCEPT OF WHAT THE REPORT IS TRYING TO COVER AND WHAT SPECIFICALLY WE ADDRESSED IN YOUR REPORT?

>> OF COURSE.

SO RIGHT NOW THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS OF COURSE IN THE MIDST OF A PROCESS OF REBUILDING.

AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE COUNTRY IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING CONVERSATIONS, DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SYSTEMIC INEQUALITY AND SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE.

FOR THE DISABILITY POPULATION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, IT REALLY EMBODIES A LOT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE TERRITORY ARE ALREADY AWARE THAT THERE ARE KEY ISSUES IN FEDERAL LAW WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING OR REPRESENTATION WHERE THE TERRITORIES ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY.

BUT FOR THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, THERE ARE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT SUBJECT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT AND HAVE FOR DECADES NOW.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, INCOME SUPPORT FOR DISABLED VIRGIN ISLANDERS, THEY´RE THE POPULATION THAT HAS BEEN HIT THE HARDEST BY SOME OF THESE LAWS.

THE REPORT IS INTENDED TO DO THREE THINGS.

FIRST IS TO SIMPLIFY SO THE PUBLIC CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT SOME OF THESE FEDERAL LAWS ARE AND HOW THEY WORK BECAUSE THEY´RE VERY COMPLEX AND THERE IS A RANGE OF THEM THAT PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT INDIVIDUALLY IN CERTAIN INSTANCES BUT HAVEN´T BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER TO PAINT A COMPLETE PICTURE.

I´LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE COSTS ARE FROM BEING EXCLUDED FROM SOME OF THESE FEDERAL PROGRAMS.

ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, THERE IS A PROGRAM THAT COULD LOAN DISABLED PEOPLE UP TO $800 A MONTH IN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE THAT THEY´RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR AND THEN, THIRD, TO SHOW SOME AREAS WHERE THE TERRITORY CAN TAKE ACTION TO TRY TO CHANGE SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS AND GET ACCESS FOR ITS LOW INCOME AND DISABLED POPULATION.

>> OKAY.

FOR PURPOSES OF THIS CONVERSATION, WE´RE LOOKING AT MEDICAID, WHICH IS A SERVICE FOR PERSONS ON LOW INCOME OR FIXED INCOMES.

WE´RE TALKING ABOUT SSI, WHICH IS THE SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME, AND WE´RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT VOTING.

YOUR REPORT ALSO COVERS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND HOW IT APPLIES TO THE TERRITORIES.

SO IT IS A LOT OF ISSUES THAT YOU RAISE IN YOUR REPORT, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS HOW WE GATHER INFORMATION, DATA.

SO LET´S -- LET´S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.

HOW DID YOU COME ABOUT DOING THE RESEARCH THAT WAS NEEDED, YOU KNOW, IN LAYMEN´S TERMS?

>> WELL, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.

A LOT OF THESE ISSUES IN FEDERAL LAW ARE PRETTY OBSCURE AND DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT ITSELF IT WAS AN EXPANSIVE LEGISLATION, THOUSANDS OF PAGES, HARD FOR ANYBODY TO REALLY KNOW WHAT IT SAID.

WHEN YOU ADD ON TOP OF THAT THESE VERY COMPLEX FEDERAL LAWS SEPARATE AND UNEQUAL RULES FOR THE TERRITORIES, IT BECOMES THAT IT ADDS AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF COMPLEXITY MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO KNOW HOW THINGS OPERATE.

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THERE WERE CONFLICTING DEAF -- DEFINITIONS OF THE WORD STATE.

IN OTHER PORTIONS OF THE LAW THE WORD "STATE" APPEARED TO EXCLUDE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

UNDERSTANDING HOW THESE THINGS WORK WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

THE REPORT STARTED BY LOOKING AT THESE FEDERAL LAWS, UNDERSTANDING WHERE IN THE LAW DO THESE SPECIAL RULES LIVE THAT TREAT THE TERRITORIES DIFFERENTLY, AND NOT JUST DIFFERENTLY BUT IN REALLY A LESSOR ELIGIBILITY STATUS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND SPECIFICALLY THOSE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, NOT JUST THE GENERAL ISSUE THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO UNEQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THESE FEDERAL PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICINE, SSI, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

THOSE ARE JUST THE MAJOR ONES.

NOT JUST TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN GENERAL TERMS, BUT TO REALLY SEE WHERE EXACTLY IN THESE LAWS AND WHAT EXACTLY THE ISSUES ARE THAT NEED SPECIFIC ATTENTION.

>> LET´S TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAME TO THIS, YOU KNOW, STATE IN WHICH WE ARE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD HEAR IN OUR ADVOCACY IS VIRGIN ISLANDS IS NOT ENTITLED TO SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME BECAUSE WE DON´T PAY FEDERAL TAXES.

WE DON´T PAY INTO THE TAX SYSTEM.

HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION OR THAT CHARGE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IN THE FIRST PLACE THAT SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME IS A PROGRAM THAT MAYBE THE PEOPLE HAVEN´T HEARD OF HERE, ONE, BECAUSE IT´S NOT AVAILABLE HERE.

BUT THIS IS THE LARGEST FEDERAL TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.

IT IS A FULLY FUNDED FEDERAL PROGRAM MEANING UNLIKE SOCIAL SECURITY OLD AGE BENEFITS YOU DON´T HAVE TO PAY IN TO RECEIVE BENEFITS LATER.

AND FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS EITHER BLIND, DISABLED OR ELDERLY AND HAS A LOW INCOME, THAT PERSON CAN RECEIVE UP TO $800 PER MONTH AS AN INDIVIDUAL FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THIS IS LIFE CHANGING.

IT LENDS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF AMERICA´S CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY.

IT IS AN ESSENTIAL LIFELINE FOR PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND IT´S DESIGNED IN A WAY THAT IT´S SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE THE GREATEST ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WITH THE MOST NEED.

AND THAT IS TRUE IN MOST OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT IT´S NOT TRUE HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, WHICH HAS BEEN COMPLETELY ELIMINATED IN THE PROGRAM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW.

AND THE PRIMARY ARGUMENT, AND THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS THAT THOSE WHO TRY TO DEFEND THIS DISCRIMINATION USE TO SAY THAT IT´S JUSTIFIED TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST VIRGIN ISLANDERS, AND THE BIGGEST ONE FOR A LONG TIME HAS BEEN THAT RESIDENTS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TAXES DON´T GO TO THE FEDERAL TREASURY.

AND MORE SPECIFICALLY NOW THAT THE INCOME TAXES DON´T GO TO THE TREASURY.

AND THIS ARGUMENT HAS BECOME RATHER MISLEADING.

OUR SUFS HERE DISABILITY RIGHTS CENTER RECENTLY USED THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT TO OBTAIN DATA FROM THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE TO SHOW HOW MUCH FEDERAL TAX IS ACTUALLY BEING COLLECTED HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

AND THE NUMBERS THEY GAVE US FOR THE LAST TWO TAX YEARS SHOW HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS PAID FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT IS NOT NECESSARILY FEDERAL INCOME TAXES BUT THERE IS MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF FEDERAL TAX.

THERE IS EMPLOYMENT TAXES, GIFT TAX, STATE TAX.

THERE ARE MANY, MANY DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF FEDERAL TAX THAT IF YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER YOU SEE THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE TERRITORIES AS A WHOLE HAVE BEEN PAYING SUBSTANTIAL TO THE TREASURY.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A GROWING AREA IN CONCERN NOT JUST FOR THE VI BUT FOR ALL THE TERRITORIES IS THAT THESE PROGRAMS ARE FOR LOW-INCOME AND DISABLED PERSONS.

SOME OF THESE PERSONS MAY NEVER ENTER THE WORKFORCE OR PAY FEDERAL TAXES BECAUSE THEY´RE LOW INCOME.

IT IS A CATEGORY OF PEOPLE THAT ALMOST BY DEFINITION DOESN´T PAY INCOME TAXES.

SO I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A GROWING CONCERN THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WANT TO JUSTIFY EXCLUDING PEOPLE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WHERE THE NEED IS THE GREATEST USING AN ARGUMENT LIKE, WELL, THE TAX STATUS IS DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE SURPRISED WHEN THEY SEE SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE RECENTLY GOTTEN FROM THE IRS.

>> THAT´S A GOOD POINT THAT YOU´RE MAKING.

HOW ABOUT THE MEDICAID PROGRAM?

AND PEOPLE WILL CONFUSE MEDICAID WITH MEDICARE.

MEDICAID IS ESSENTIALLY A PROGRAM IN WHICH YOU HAVE TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE FINANCIALLY NOT ABLE -- WELL, I GUESS YOU HAVE TO BE VERY LOW INCOME TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID, WHICH IS WHAT WE´RE TALKING ABOUT.

HOW HAS YOUR RESEARCH IN THAT REGARD, WHAT HAS THAT SHOWN YOU?

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM THAT?

WHAT HAVE WE AS A COMMUNITY LEARNED FROM THAT?

>> OF COURSE.

FROM A HIGH LEVEL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MEDICAID IS, MEDICAID IS A PROGRAM THAT SHARES COSTS BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE OR TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FREE HEALTH INSURANCE TO THE LOWEST INCOME AMERICANS.

MOST LOW-INCOME AMERICANS GET THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH MEDICAID.

AND THE WAY THAT IT WORKS IS THAT IT SETS A PERCENTAGE OF FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR HEALTH CARE EXPENSES.

SO THE WAY THAT THIS WORKS IS THAT IN A STATE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE POOREST OR LOWEST INCOME STATE, MISSISSIPPI, THERE IS A FORMULA THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOW PER CAPITA INCOME, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO PAY SOMETHING LIKE 80% OF ALL THE COSTS OF YOUR LOW-INCOME HEALTH CARE AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO PAY 20%.

THAT FORMULA CHANGES DEPENDING ON THE PER CAPITA INCOME OF THE STATE.

SO FOR WEALTHIER STATES LIKE NEW YORK OR CALIFORNIA, THE PERCENTAGE IS MORE LIKE 50/50 BECAUSE THOSE STATES ARE RELATIVE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ONLY PAYS 50% OF THEIR CENSUS AND THE STATE IS EXPECTED TO PAY 50%.

WELL, HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, PER CAPITA INCOME IS LOWER THAN MISSISSIPPI, WHICH IS THE LOWEST OF ALL THE STATES.

SO BASED ON THAT FORMULA, YOU WOULD EXPECT THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD BE HIGHER THAN MISSISSIPPI´S, HIGHER THAN 80%.

IT WOULD BE AT THE MAXIMUM LEVEL.

WELL, RATHER THAN MAINTAINING THAT FORMULA FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, THE MEDICAID PROGRAM UNDER FEDERAL LAW HAS CREATED A TOTALLY SEPARATE SET OF RULES FOR A TERRITORY LIKE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND HAS SAID THAT WE´RE GOING TO TREAT YOU LIKE THE WEALTHIER STATES AND HAVE A REIMBURSEMENT PERCENTAGE OF MAYBE 50% AND MORE RECENTLY 45% ACCORDING TO THE LAW RATHER THAN GIVE YOU THE HIGHER REIMBURSEMENT PERCENTAGE OF 80% OR MORE THAT MANY STATES ARE GETTING.

NOW, THIS HAS CREATED OBVIOUSLY A VERY BIG BURDEN ON THE VIRGIN ISLANDS GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO BOND THESE SERVICES WITH THE LOWER FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT RATE THAN MOST OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE A COMPARABLE PER CAPITA INCOME HERE TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

AND, SO, THE RESULT OF THAT IS THAT CONGRESS HAS ESSENTIALLY ALLOWED THE VIRGIN ISLANDS SYSTEMS TO GET STRAPPED OVER MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AND THEN INTERVENE TO MAYBE EXTEND THOSE PERCENTAGES.

SO NOW THE PERCENTAGES HAVE BEEN INCREASED FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

BUT THOSE INCREASES ONLY LAST FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS.

SO WHAT I´M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THE RULES THEMSELVES TREAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN A SEPARATE CATEGORY, GIVEN THEM LOWER REIMBURSEMENT PERCENTAGES AND CONGRESS WILL INCREASE THOSE PERCENTAGES ON A ONE OR TWO YEAR BASIS.

OF COURSE THAT CREATES ITS OWN PROBLEMS BECAUSE IF YOU ONLY KNOW YOU ARE HAVING AN INCREASE FOR ONE OR TWO YEARS, IT IS HARD TO MAKE ANY KIND OF LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS TO REALLY BRING NEW PROVIDERS HERE TO INVEST IN NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, TO INVEST IN ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE OFFERED HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

INSTEAD, IT´S ALL ABOUT TRYING TO BALANCE AND DEAL WITH A CRISIS SITUATION WITH A ONE OR TWO YEAR TEMPORARY FIX.

AND THAT IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM THAT HAS OVER MANY, MANY YEARS ADDED AND ADDED AND ADDED STRESS TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WITH THE GREATEST IMPACT OF THAT STRESS FELT BY THE LOW-INCOME AND DISABLED POPULATION.

>> RIGHT.

NOW, SOMEONE MIGHT SAY, OKAY, THIS IS INTERESTING.

PEOPLE MIGHT WONDER, WHY ARE YOU EVEN INTERESTED?

DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL STAKE?

IS THIS MORE THAN AN ACADEMIC EXERCISE.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND, JAMES.

>> SURE, AMELIA.

I RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL, FAIRLY RECENTLY, IN MAY OF 2020.

AND I HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN AN ACADEMIC SENSE IN THESE ISSUES FOR A WHILE.

REALLY MY CONNECTION HAS A PERSONAL ASPECT TO IT AS WELL.

MY MOTHER AND HER FAMILY ARE FROM THERE.

I GREW UP KNOWING, LIKE MANY PEOPLE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT ABOUT BEING IN A TERRITORY.

NOT HAVING A VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT, NOT HAVING REPRESENTATION ON THE FLOOR OF THE CONGRESS.

BUT ALSO THAT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES, TOO, AND SOME OF THEM ARE DELICATE ISSUES ABOUT DISCRIMINATION AND DECIDING WITHIN A COMMUNITY WHAT OUR FUTURE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE.

AS I PROCEEDED THROUGH COLLEGE, I SERVED IN THE MILITARY.

I´M ACTIVE DUTY.

I SERVED ALONGSIDE SOLDIERS FROM OTHER VARIOUS ISLANDS FROM PUERTO RICO AND REALIZED THESE ISSUES HAVE A RESONANCE, THAT THEY´RE VERY OVERLOOKED, ESPECIALLY NOW IN OUR NATION´S CONVERSATION ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM, SYSTEMIC INJUSTICE.

I THINK THAT THESE ARE VERY PRESSING ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THESE BENEFITS.

I THINK COMING TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AS SOMEBODY WHO DOESN´T HAVE THE ROOTS HERE, I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THESE ISSUES ABOUT STATUS, THEY´RE VERY DELICATE ISSUES AND I THINK THEY´RE ISSUES THAT ARE PROPERLY ANSWERED BY PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO DISCRIMINATION AND FEDERAL BENEFITS, WHEN IT COMES TO THESE BASIC LIFELINES THAT HAVE REALLY ENHANCED THE STANDARD OF LIVING FOR MOST AMERICANS IN EVERY PLACE EXCEPT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, I THINK THAT THOSE ARE REALLY, REALLY PRESSING AND WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AND YOU MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE HERE AND PARTICULARLY LOW INCOME AND SAVING PEOPLE HERE.

AND I THINK THAT TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES NOW MATTERS NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE BIGGER QUESTIONS OF CRITICAL STATUS, STATEHOOD AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

>> IN YOUR REPORT YOU MENTION THAT, AGAIN, IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SSI, SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME, YOU COULD ARGUABLY EARN UP TO $800 A MONTH.

WHAT ARE VIRGIN ISLANDERS WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT.

WHAT ARE THEY PRESENTLY RECEIVING IF THEY´RE RECEIVING ANYTHING AT ALL?

WHAT KIND OF DOLLARS ARE WE DEALING WITH?

>> THAT´S A GREAT QUESTION.

FINDING THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS IS QUITE DIFFICULT AND HAS TAKEN A LOT OF WORK IN OUR ORGANIZATION, WHICH GETS TO ANOTHER POINT IN THE REPORT, WHICH IS THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS ALSO LEFT OUT OF A LOT OF DATA TRANSPARENCY, DATA REPORTING AND COLLECTION PROGRAMS, BOTH AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITHIN FEDERAL AGENCIES AND THAT THAT DATA GETS FILTERED DOWN TO NONPROFITS AND THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE AS WELL.

IT IS SOMETHING I WANT TO POINT OUT, THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN ALL OF THIS DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC DATA THINGS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COLLECTS.

BUT I THINK ALSO, YOU KNOW, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, SO THE MOST RECENT DATA THAT WE HAVE REFLECTS THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WAS GETTING SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $150 AND $200 PER MONTH FOR RECIPIENTS UNDER THREE SEPARATE PROGRAMS THAT CONGRESS HAS CREATED.

THESE ARE MUCH SMALLER PROGRAMS THAT OFFER A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF BENEFITS TO A MUCH SMALLER NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO OUR BLIND, ELDERLY AND DISABLED.

IN PUERTO RICO, THE NUMBER IS EVEN LOWER, BUT WE´RE TALKING A DIFFERENCE OF MAYBE FOUR TIMES.

THAT´S THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT IS IT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING UNDER THESE SEPARATE AND LESSER PROGRAMS UNDER THE SSDI AND WHAT THEY WOULD GET UNDER SSI.

IN ONE YEAR THAT WE LOOKED AT, THERE WERE REALLY ONLY ABOUT 100 PEOPLE IN THE TERRITORY WHO WERE GETTING THAT $170 A MONTH AVERAGE.

>> WOW.

>> AND TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IN 2011, I BELIEVE, CONGRESS DID A STUDY OF WHAT THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE FOR PUERTO RICO UNDER SSI AND UNDER THE SEPARATE PROGRAM, AND UNDER SSI THEY ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN TEN TIMES AS MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS, AND THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR JUST THAT YEAR WAS 70 TIMES.

THEY HAD 70 TIMES LESS THAN WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN SSI.

SO WHILE THERE IS TECHNICALLY A PROGRAM ON THE BOOKS THAT SAYS, YES, WE SUPPORT DISABLED OR ELDERLY OR BLIND PERSONS, IT IS REALLY JUST A TINY, TINY FRACTION OF WHAT ALL OTHER AMERICANS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR IN THE MAINLAND AND WASHINGTON, D.C. AND ON THE ISLANDS, INTERESTINGLY, UNDER SSI.

>> RIGHT.

AND THE ONLY TERRITORY THAT IS ELIGIBLE AND RECEIVING SSI.

THAT IS CORRECT?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> OKAY.

LET´S TALK A LITTLE ABOUT VOTING.

WHAT DID YOUR VOTING RESEARCH SHOW YOU?

OR LACK OF VOTING, I SHOULD SAY.

>> YEAH.

SURE.

I DON´T THINK THERE IS A PERSON LIVING IN THE TERRITORIES WHO DOESN´T UNDERSTAND ON SOME LEVEL THAT THERE IS A STRONG DISSONANCE IN THE REALITIES OF THE BURDENS OF CITIZENSHIP THAT PEOPLE OF THE TERRITORIES TAKE UP, WHETHER THAT´S PAYING TAXES TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS WE DISCUSSED, WHETHER THAT´S SERVING IN THE MILITARY.

THE OBLIGATION OF CITIZENSHIP IN MANY WAYS FROM THE TERRITORY ARE PEOPLE ARE MEETING THOSE ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN IN TERMS OF PARTICIPATION AND MILITARY SERVICE AND WHATNOT.

AND WHEN IT COMES, AGAIN, TO THE PRIVILEGES OF CITIZENSHIP WHAT WE WOULD NORMALLY SAY ARE PRESENTATION IN THE GOVERNMENT, THAT IS MISSING.

AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE THAT I KNOW, WHETHER IT´S PEOPLE I KNOW ON MY OWN FAMILY BACKGROUND OR PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I THINK THAT, OF COURSE, IS A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE THAN WE CAN ADDRESS IN THIS REPORT.

IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS A DISCREET POLICY FIX.

THAT´S A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT I THINK IF YOU LOOK CLOSER, THERE ARE THINGS WITH RESPECT TO VOTING THAT I THINK CAN BE VERY INTERESTING INCITE.

SO ONE OF THEM, FOR EXAMPLE, IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VERSUS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SENATE.

AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY EXAMPLES OF LEGISLATION THAT HAVE SOUGHT TO FIX A NUMBER OF THESE ISSUES OR END DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS THAT HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS AND HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF TRACTION THROUGH IN HOUSE COMMITTEES AND HAVE AT LEAST MADE IT SO THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND OTHER TERRITORIES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND VOICE THE PERSPECTIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING LEFT OUT OF A BENEFITS PROGRAM.

>> SO YOU ARE SAYING THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN PREVIOUS CONFERENCES OR CONGRESSES, I SHOULD SAY, HAD VOTED FOR TERRITORIES TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> NOT NECESSARILY THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

WE DID SEE THE PREVIOUS CONGRESS TAKE UP D.C. STATEHOOD, WHICH OF COURSE IS NOT -- AGAIN, THIS IS A SEPARATE COMMUNITY.

IT IS A SEPARATE PREROGATIVE TO COME UP WITH THIS ANSWER ABOUT STATEHOOD OR A DIFFERENT STATUS.

BUT WHAT I´M REFERRING TO IS PREVIOUS CONGRESSES THAT WERE WILLING TO GIVE FULL SSI ELIGIBILITY TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND WERE WILLING TO END THESE DISCRIMINATORY MEDICAID PERCENTAGES.

AND WHAT YOU SEE IS THAT THAT STUFF DIES IN THE SENATE.

>> RIGHT.

>> THERE IS COUNTLESS EXAMPLES.

YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND OTHER TERRITORIES HAVE A NONVOTING DELEGATE WHO CAN´T VOTE ON THE FLOOR, BUT CAN VOTE ON COMMITTEE.

HAVING SOMEONE THERE TO EXPRESS THAT VOICE I WOULD SAY FROM THE SCOPE OF OUR RESEARCH HAS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

I THINK WHEN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS CONSIDERS THE SENATE, THAT COULD POTENTIALLY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR MOST AMERICAN CITIZENS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE SAME SEAT AT THE TABLE AS EVERYBODY ELSE.

I THINK THERE IS THAT ISSUE OF, YES, THERE ARE SPECIFIC POLICY ISSUES OF BEING LEFT OUT OF MEDICAID.

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, THAT´S THE EXPRESSION OF HAVING A LACK OF A VOICE.

SO I THINK THAT´S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE REPORT AS UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM AND SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A BIT OF A DEEPER THINKING IN TERMS OF SOLVING.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD DO?

WHAT SHOULD WE AS RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT FOR ONE, I THINK IT´S IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND AND SPEAK UP ABOUT SOME OF THESE LONG-STANDING STRUCTURAL ISSUES IN FEDERAL LAW.

AND THAT´S NOT TO STAY THAT THERE AREN´T ISSUES WITH LOCAL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION AND LOCAL POLITICS.

I´M TRYING TO RESEARCH ALL FIVE TERRITORIES.

AT THIS POINT I´VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS FROM ALL FIVE TERRITORY´S PERSPECTIVE.

AND THERE CAN ALMOST BE A SENSE THAT THIS IS NORMAL BECAUSE ITS EXISTED FOR SO LONG.

AND I THINK THERE CAN ALSO BE A PERSPECTIVE THAT AN OVERWHELMING FOCUS ON ISSUES WITHIN LOCAL POLITICS, EXAMPLES OF LOCAL CORRUPTION AND MISMANAGEMENT.

IT IS NOT THAT THOSE THINGS DON´T EXIST OR THEY´RE FALSE, BUT THEY ALSO EXIST UPON THE FOUNDATION, A SHAKY FOUNDATION THAT IS SET IN THESE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE TERRITORY AND IMPORTANT FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND PUT THEM IN A SEPARATE CATEGORY.

SO I THINK THAT UNDERSTANDING AND SPEAKING UP FOR THESE STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT HAVE GONE ON TOO LONG, I THINK THAT´S THE PLACE TO START.

>> SO, OKAY, LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.

CERTAINLY PUBLIC AWARENESS IS IMPORTANT.

EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS.

AND THEN WHAT?

AND THEN WHAT?

>> SURE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST TO END, I THINK THAT CAN TAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FORMS.

I THINK WE´RE SEEING OBVIOUSLY A CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION, CHANGE IN THE COMPOSITION OF CONGRESS.

I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT PUERTO RICO AND GUAM, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT SUCCESSFUL LAWSUITS SAYING THAT THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL DISCRIMINATION, AKIN THE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION.

I THINK THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES.

>> TO PUT IT IN A NUTSHELL, AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED BEFORE OR YOU REFERRED TO THAT APPEARS IN A LAWSUIT IS THAT CITIZENSHIP SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO WHERE YOU LIVE, AND THAT´S THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS CONVERSATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, JAMES FOR THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING THIS REPORT RELEASED AND THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE TERRITORIES, WHAT WE CAN DO AS CITIZENS, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BE ENGAGED ACID SEVENS OF THE UNITED STATES.

SO, JAMES, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THERE WILL BE A LOT COMING FROM OUR OFFICE.

SO I´D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF "ABLE TO RAISE".

>> THANK YOU.

>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.