Only the right has signed this so far (Bill Ranking)
S. 4947 · 119th Congress (2025-2026)
1 member · Left 0 · Center 0 · Right 1 (Bill Ranking)
| Sponsor | Sen. Schmitt, Eric (R-MO) (Introduced 07/13/2026) |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Voting Record | Right · DW-NOMINATE +0.88 · measured from every roll-call vote this member has cast (voteview.com) (Sponsor Ranking) |
| Support |
LLLCLRR support across the spectrum: 1 member signed on (Bill Ranking) this bill: sponsor + current cosponsors, each once |
| Committees | Senate - Finance Committee |
| Latest Action | 07/13/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. |
| Roll Call Votes | There have been no roll call votes |
| Source | view on congress.gov → |
Introduced in Senate (07/13/2026)
Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act
This bill reauthorizes through 2031 the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) authority to carry out demonstration projects within the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. The bill also imposes requirements related to beneficiary income, project funding, and SSA reporting.
SSDI demonstration projects must be designed to promote attachment to the workforce and generally involve temporary changes to SSDI policies tested on a subset of beneficiaries. Participation in a demonstration project must be voluntary. SSA’s authority to carry out these projects expired on December 31, 2022.
Under the bill, SSA must ensure that an individual’s participation in a demonstration project does not reduce their total income. Further, the bill specifies that administrative expenses related to demonstration projects must be paid from funds appropriated for administration.
Finally, the bill requires SSA to report to Congress 120 days before initiating a demonstration project. This is an increase from 90 days under current law. This advance notification must include evaluation metrics for the relevant project.
119 S4947 IS: Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act U.S. Senate 2026-07-13 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. II119th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 4947IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESJuly 13, 2026Mr. Schmitt introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on FinanceA BILLTo amend title II of the Social Security Act to reauthorize demonstration authority for the disability insurance program.1.Short titleThis Act may be cited as the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act.2.Temporary reauthorization of disability insurance demonstration project authority(a)Termination dateSection 234(d)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 434(d)(2)) is amended by striking December 31, 2021, and the authority to carry out such projects shall terminate on December 31, 2022 and inserting December 31, 2030, and the authority to carry out such projects shall terminate on December 31, 2031. (b) Authority To waive compliance with benefits requirements Section 234(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 434(c)) is amended— (1) by striking December 30, 2021 and inserting December 31, 2030; (2) by striking 90 days and inserting 120 days; and (3) by inserting after the expected annual and total costs, the following: evaluation metrics to be used with respect to the experiment or demonstration project,. (c)ExpenditureSection 201(k) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 401(k)) is amended to read as follows:(k)Administrative expenditures for experiments and demonstration projects under section 234 shall be paid from funds made available for the administration of this title. Benefits payable to or on behalf of individuals by reason of participation in experiments and demonstration projects under section 234 shall be made from the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund, as determined appropriate by the Commissioner of Social Security..(d)LimitationSection 234(e) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 434(e)) is amended—(1)in paragraph (2), by striking the and at the end;(2)in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and(3)by adding at the end the following:(4)that the total income of an individual will not be reduced due to the individual’s participation in an experiment or demonstration project..(e)Technical amendmentsSection 234 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 434) is further amended—(1)in subsection (d)(1), by striking subsection and inserting section; and(2)by striking subsection (f).(f)Effective dateThe amendments made by this section shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
The bill's own words, from our database (synced from the GPO BILLS XML); paragraph breaks added at the bill's section boundaries, nothing else changed.
| Date | Chamber | All Actions |
|---|---|---|
| 07/13/2026 | Library of Congress | Introduced in Senate |
| 07/13/2026 | Senate | Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. |
| Title Type | Title |
|---|---|
| Official Title as Introduced | A bill to amend title II of the Social Security Act to reauthorize demonstration authority for the disability insurance program. |
| Display Title | Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act |
| Short Title(s) as Introduced | Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act |
There are no amendments to this bill.
There are no cosponsors of this bill.
| Committee | Activity |
|---|---|
| Senate - Finance Committee | 07/13/2026 Referred To |
Policy Area: Social Welfare
No legislative subjects have been assigned yet.
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