Congress sends Obama bill to stop Nazi benefits

A bill that would block suspected Nazi war criminals from receiving US government pension benefits is heading to President Barack Obama for his signature. By voice vote late Thursday, the Senate gave final congressional approval to a measure that would shut a loophole that allowed suspected Nazis to be paid millions of dollars in benefits, clearing it for the White House.

Under the No Social Security for Nazis Act, the benefits, known as Social Security, would be terminated for Nazi suspects who have lost their American citizenship, a step called denaturalization. US law currently requires a higher threshold – a final order of deportation – before the benefits can be stopped.