STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION: BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY LIMITATIONS APPLICABLE ONLY WITH RESPECT TO ALIENS PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES.

SEC. 5574. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION: BENEFIT ELIGIBILITY LIMITATIONS APPLICABLE ONLY WITH RESPECT TO ALIENS PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES. Section 433 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1643) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d); and (2) by adding after subsection (a) the following new subsection: “(b) Benefit Eligibility Limitations Applicable Only With Respect to Aliens Present in the United States.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the limitations on eligibility for benefits under this title shall not apply to eligibility for benefits of aliens who are not residing, or present, in the United States with respect to— “(1) wages, pensions, annuities, and other earned payments to which an alien is entitled resulting from employment by, or on behalf of, a Federal, State, or local government agency which was not prohibited during the period of such employment or service under section 274A or other applicable provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act; or “(2) benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.”.