Maloney, Chaffetz & Lance back No Social Security for Nazis Act

WASHINGTON –The House members who authored and introduced the Nazi Social Security Benefits Termination Act of 2014 (H.R. 5706, introduced 11/13/2014), Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Leonard Lance (R-NJ) today announced their support for the No Social Security for Nazis Act (H.R. 7539, introduced 11/19/2014), which will be considered by the House of Representatives later this week.

“We cannot allow Social Security benefits to continue flowing to those guilty of the worst atrocities in modern history,” said Maloney. “That’s why I wrote and introduced a bill to terminate these benefits. The Ways and Means committee took up the same effort and introduced a similar bill that would achieve the same goal. Either bill would have been sufficient. I’m pleased that the House is taking action this week to finally stop these benefits from flowing to Nazi persecutors.”

“I find it deeply troubling that former Nazi soldiers are now living on benefits paid for by hardworking Americans,” said Chaffetz. “I’m pleased that the House is taking up legislation that ensures taxpayer dollars aren’t spent footing the bill for individuals guilty of such egregious crimes.”

“Today the House acted to correct an injustice of two generations and right a terrible wrong in the name of the lives that were lost as a result of the Holocaust. This action is yet another step in demonstrating that our resolve for justice is unyielding and our commitment to pursue what is right continues even 70 years after World War II,” said Lance, an original cosponsor of the legislation and co-chair of the Republican Israel Caucus.

Similar to the No Social Security for Nazis Act produced by the Ways and Means Committee, the Nazi Social Security Benefits Termination Act introduced by Maloney, Chaffetz, and Lance affirmatively declares Nazi war criminals ineligible for federal benefits and instructs the Attorney General to inform the Social Security Administration when an individual has been denaturalized or has renounced his or her citizenship on the grounds of participation in Nazi persecution. Upon denaturalization or renunciation, these individuals will no longer be eligible for Social Security benefits. This legislation will enable the U.S. Government to stop payment of benefits by closing the loophole through which many former Nazis were able to leave the U.S. and retain eligibility for benefits. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

The Social Security Act presently disallows benefits to those who participated in the Nazi persecutions or genocide but only in cases where a final order of removal has been issued. However, as the Associated Press recently reported, many former Nazis have continued receiving benefits for decades because no such order was issued. The Nazi Social Security Benefits Termination Act would end benefits for Nazis who left the country and renounced their citizenship or were denaturalized but were never issued a final order of removal.

Background:

Nazi Social Security Benefits Termination Act of 2014 (H.R. 5706) – Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Jason Chaffetz, and Leonard Lance, introduced 11/13/2014

• Findings: Congress enacted laws to exclude participants in Nazi persecution and never intended those individuals to receive federal benefits.
• Affirmatively declares individuals who have been denaturalized or renounced citizenship on the grounds of participation in Nazi persecution ineligible for Social Security benefits.
• Changes Social Security law to terminate benefits upon denaturalization or for those who voluntarily renounced their citizenship pursuant to a settlement agreement. Current law requires an order of removal (deportation) be issued before benefits eligibility is revoked. Often a deportation order follows a citizen’s denaturalization and prolongs the process to discontinue benefits.
• Requires the Attorney General to notify the Commissioner of Social Security as soon as practicable of individuals who participated in Nazi persecution and are deemed ineligible under this legislation. Terminates benefits for months following the date of enactment.
• Requires an annual report to Congress from the Department of Justice on the number of individuals it has determined are disqualified for Social Security benefits under this new legislation as well as the number of active investigations against Nazi war criminals it continues to pursue.

No Social Security for Nazis Act of 2014 (H.R. 5739) – Reps. Sam Johnson and Javier Becerra, introduced 11/19/2014

• Findings: Social Security benefits never intended for participants in Nazi persecution
• Requires an individual whose citizenship has been revoked and those who renounced their citizenship due to participation in Nazi persecutions to be considered to have been removed and thus no longer eligible for benefits as of the date of the revocation or renunciation of citizenship.
• Individuals who are not eligible for benefits based on participation in Nazi persecutions cannot receive spouse benefits due to marriage to a Social Security beneficiary or Supplemental Security Income benefits.
• Requires the Attorney General to notify the Commissioner of Social Security within 7 days after enactment of all individuals who have been removed, whose citizenship has been revoked, or who renounced their citizenship, due to participation in Nazi persecutions.
• Not later than 30 days after each notification, the Commissioner of Social Security shall certify to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Finance that benefits were terminated.