Dan Coats: “the last 6 months of this Senate I have been coming down here every week to talk about the ``Waste of the…”

“the last 6 months of this Senate I have been coming down here every week to talk about the ``Waste of the Week''--examples of waste, fraud, and abuse within the Federal Government. I can't believe this is No. 17. We are continuing to rack up significant savings to the taxpayer. We can eliminate these documented and certified wastes that have been determined through the various government agencies, inspectors general, and others. Today we turn to a rather serious topic regarding the receipt of taxpayer dollars by criminals who are avoiding felony arrest but are still receiving benefits at taxpayers' expense. Here is a little history. The Social Security Act currently prohibits those fleeing justice from receiving Social Security and other Federal benefits. Congress first addressed this issue in 1996, when it banned fugitive felons from receiving Social Security benefits. It then expanded this prohibition in 2004 to also apply this ban to Social Security disability insurance and World War II benefits. Unfortunately this law has run into some conflicting opinions by court challenges, which have weakened the effects of the law and led to a lack of clarity in terms of what the original language and original intent by Congress was supposed to be.…”