House lawmakers unanimously voted on Tuesday to block Social Security benefits for suspected Nazi war criminals.
The unusual bill came after The Associated Press reported in October that dozens of suspected Nazis expelled from the U.S. had collected millions of dollars in federal benefits, The Hill reported.
“If they agreed to go, or simply fled before deportation, they could keep their Social Security, according to interviews and internal government records,” the AP reported.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Sam Johnson, said the measure would close the loophole.
“Social Security is an earned benefit hardworking Americans pay as a portion of their wages for promises of future benefits,” the Texas Republican said Tuesday, The Hill reported. “It’s a benefit that was never intended for those who participated in horrific acts of the Holocaust.”
“To think Nazis are receiving Social Security benefits derived from tax receipts of the American people is sickening and morally wrong,” said Rep. Leonard Lance, a New Jersey Republican, The Washington Examiner reported. “And today, Congress will move to put an end to it.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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