“To restrict certain Federal assistance benefits to individuals verified to be citizens of the United States.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section restricts eligibility for any federal assistance benefit—defined as assistance furnished to an individual (or the individual's household or family) under any federal assistance program, including benefits via grants or contracts—to U.S. citizens or nationals who meet specified attestation and verification requirements, notwithstanding any other provision of law. To qualify, an individual must (1) attest in writing under penalty of perjury to U.S. citizenship or nationality in connection with a benefit application or as a recipient; and (2) furnish (a) satisfactory documentary evidence of citizenship (per SSA standards at 42 U.S.C. 1396b(x)(3)), (b) a photographic identity document (per INA §274A(b)(1)(D)), and (c) name and Social Security account number, with confirmation of validity and citizenship status via SSA records, DHS records, and a SAVE program check for noncitizen status. Entities administering benefits must transmit applicant data to SSA and DHS for confirmation or nonconfirmation; unverified applicants receive notice of ineligibility and appeal rights through the administering agency's process. (Thus, programs such as Section 202 supportive housing for the elderly (12 U.S.C. 1701q)—providing capital advances and rental assistance to very low-income elderly persons—would be limited to verified citizens or nationals.)