Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act

The House debated H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, which reauthorizes the Social Security Administration’s authority to run voluntary demonstration projects in the disability insurance program that test changes to SSDI rules, with requirements that participation not reduce a beneficiary’s total income and that SSA report to Congress before starting a project. Supporters, including Reps. Smith and Scott, said the bill would let people with disabilities, including wounded veterans, try returning to work without losing their benefits, and argued the projects are voluntary. Opponents, including Reps. Chu and Davis, said the bill would let the administration test changes that could cut disability benefits for vulnerable recipients, expressed concern about SSA staffing and customer service resources, and noted the bill’s text does not itself mention the Purple Heart Freedom to Work program, which supporters had highlighted; Chu suggested voting on such a bill directly instead.Written by AI from the debate. Updated 2026-10-17.

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