House Dem: Cut benefits of Americans in ISIS

A Democratic lawmaker is calling on the government to cut off benefits to Americans who have joined the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), who is unveiling a bill that would end Social Security payments to suspected Nazi war criminals, said similar legislation should block benefits for Americans assisting ISIS.

{mosads}“I think we should have similar legislation on terrorists and cut off any benefits that they may have,” said Maloney on CNN, citing reports about U.S. citizens joining the Islamic extremist group.

“They’re going over there to serve and I don’t think they should be permitted back in the United States and I think any benefit that they receive should be terminated,” she added.

Maloney, a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, did not say whether she intended to offer such legislation herself or which benefits should be striped.

Obama administration officials initially suggested that more than 100 Americans have traveled overseas to fight alongside ISIS, but recent reports suggest the figure is closer to a dozen.

In early September, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the Expatriate Terrorist Act that would rescind the U.S. citizenship of Americans who have been fighting with or providing support to terrorist groups that want to attack the U.S.

Cruz tried to push the bill through by “unanimous consent” in the Senate before Congress left for recess, but Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) objected, arguing the Senate Judiciary Committee had not yet considered the measure.