hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Requires verified U.S. citizenship for federal assistance benefits.
Sponsored by Mr. Grothman, Mr. Perry, Ms. Boebert, and Ms. Mace.
Introduced in the House, no vote yet.
This bill, known as the 'Safeguarding Benefits for Americans Act of 2026', would make federal assistance benefits available only to individuals who can prove they are U.S. citizens or nationals. It was introduced by Representative Glenn Grothman along with several co-sponsors. Currently, the bill has only been introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to a committee, meaning it is in the very early stages of the legislative process.
Introduced Jan 22, 2026
This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on January 22, 2026, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. For it to become law, it would need to pass through this committee, be voted on and passed by the full House, then go through a similar process in the Senate, and finally be signed by the President.
If this bill becomes law, individuals applying for or already receiving federal assistance benefits would be required to declare under penalty of perjury that they are a U.S. citizen or national, and then provide documentary evidence (like a birth certificate or passport) which would be verified against Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security records. Federal agencies and other organizations that provide these benefits would be responsible for carrying out these verification steps. If these entities repeatedly fail to comply with the new citizenship verification requirements, they could be disqualified from providing federal benefits, and their names added to a list of excluded entities.
Supporters Say
Supporters argue this bill ensures federal assistance benefits are exclusively provided to verified U.S. citizens or nationals.
Critics Say
Critics might argue the new verification steps could create administrative burdens or delays for eligible individuals.
The bill's sponsors aim to safeguard federal benefits by restricting them to U.S. citizens. They propose a detailed process for individuals to attest to their citizenship and for agencies to verify it using federal databases. Concerns could arise regarding the potential for increased bureaucracy for both applicants and the agencies administering benefits, as well as the resources required to implement such a widespread verification system.