Legislative status and House action

HR 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, is currently under consideration in the Senate. On July 23, 2026, the bill was received in the Senate, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Prior to its arrival in the Senate, the bill passed the House of Representatives on July 23, 2026, by a vote of 232–188 (Roll no. 283). The floor proceedings were conducted under the provisions of H. Res. 1438, which also facilitated the adoption of an amendment in the nature of a substitute.

Proposed changes to SSDI demonstration projects

The bill aims to revive and extend the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) authority to conduct demonstration projects within the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program. This authority previously expired on December 31, 2022. If enacted, HR 8884 would reauthorize these projects through 2031.

These demonstration projects are designed to test temporary policy changes on a subset of beneficiaries to determine their effectiveness in promoting workforce attachment. Participation in these projects is required to be voluntary.

Key provisions of the proposal include:

  • Income protection: The SSA must ensure that an individual’s participation in a demonstration project does not result in a reduction of their total income.

  • Funding requirements: Administrative expenses associated with these projects must be covered by funds specifically appropriated for administration.

  • Congressional oversight: The bill extends the required notification period for the SSA to inform Congress of a new project from 90 days to 120 days. This notification must include specific evaluation metrics for the proposed project.

Legislative record and context

Primary sponsorship of the bill is held by Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA-8), with bipartisan interest reflected in the legislative record. The bill is categorized under the policy area of Labor and Employment, with subject matter including social welfare, disability assistance, and government studies.

Committee and amendment history

The bill was processed through the House Committee on Ways and Means before reaching the floor. During the House floor consideration, an amendment in the nature of a substitute (119/hamdt/268) was agreed to without objection pursuant to H. Res. 1438.

Budgetary and research context

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a cost estimate for the bill on June 26, 2026, based on the version reported by the House Committee on Ways and Means. The bill’s text analysis identifies four sections and includes two deadline-related signals, with statutory references pointing to 42 U.S.C. 434 and 42 U.S.C. 401.

Related legislation

The legislative graph for HR 8884 includes several related records:

  • S. 4947: A companion or related bill titled the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act.

  • H. Res. 1438: The resolution that provided the framework for the bill's floor consideration.

  • H. Res. 1398: An additional resolution related to the consideration of legislative business.