S. 4334

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4334 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4334

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require the 
Commissioner of Social Security to carry out a demonstration project 
relating to disability benefits of blind individuals.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 16 (legislative day, April 14), 2026

Mr. Sullivan (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title II of the Social Security Act to require the 
Commissioner of Social Security to carry out a demonstration project 
relating to disability benefits of blind individuals.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Blind Americans Return to Work Act 
of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR BLIND AMERICANS.

Title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 235. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOR BLIND AMERICANS.

``(a) In General.--For a 20-year period beginning not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Commissioner 
shall carry out the demonstration project described in subsection (b).
``(b) Benefit Offset.--
``(1) In general.--The demonstration project described in 
this subsection is a project under which benefits under section 
223 are modified pursuant to paragraph (2) for individuals--
``(A) who are entitled to a benefit under 223(a)(1) 
for a month during the 120-month period beginning with 
the first month of the 20-year period described in 
subsection (a); and
``(B) whose disability is by reason of blindness 
(as defined in section 216(i)(1)).
``(2) Modification.--For purposes of paragraph (1), the 
benefit under section 223 of an individual described in 
paragraph (1) is modified as follows:
``(A) In determining eligibility for such benefit, 
a determination of whether the individual is disabled 
under section 223(d)(1)(B) shall be made without 
respect to substantial gainful activity.
``(B) Any benefit payable to the individual for a 
month (other than a benefit payable for any month prior 
to the first month beginning after the date on which 
the individual's entitlement to such benefit is 
determined) shall be reduced, except such benefit may 
not be reduced below $0, by $1 for every $2 by which 
the individual's earnings derived from services paid 
during such month exceeds the sum of--
``(i) the exempt amount described in 
section 223(d)(4)(A); and
``(ii) an amount equal to the individual's 
expenses reasonably attributable to the earning 
of any income for such month.
``(C) Entitlement to any such benefit shall not 
terminate due to earnings derived from services.
``(D) The period of trial work described in section 
222(c) shall not apply.
``(E) The provisions related to the termination 
month in subsection (a)(1) of section 223 shall not 
apply.
``(c) Authority To Waive Compliance With Certain Requirements.--In 
carrying out the demonstration project under this section, the 
Commissioner may waive compliance with the benefit requirements of this 
title and the requirements of section 1148 as they relate to the 
programs established under this title, insofar as necessary to carry 
out the demonstration project.
``(d) Opt Out.--After the 120-month period described in subsection 
(b)(1)(A), an individual described in such subsection may opt out of 
the demonstration project.''.
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