Madeleine Dean (D-PA)
Removing Access Barriers to Running for Elected Office for People with Disabilities Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
H.R. 10659 is known as the "Removing Access Barriers to Running for Elected Office for People with Disabilities Act". The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on October 1, 2026. It allows individuals with disabilities to campaign for elected office without losing access to federally supported benefits. Any campaign work performed by a qualified individual, and any compensation received for that work, will be disregarded when determining eligibility or benefit amounts. This rule applies to Federal programs and to State or local programs financed in whole or in part with Federal funds. A qualified individual is defined as someone entitled to a benefit under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act because of a disability.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +9
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill directly benefits people with disabilities by allowing them to campaign for public office without risking their federally supported benefits.
- Scored +8
Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities?
The bill expands rights and protections for individuals with disabilities by allowing them to campaign for public office without losing access to federally supported benefits.
- Scored +6
Does this make elections run better?
The legislation removes financial barriers for individuals with disabilities to run for elected office, thereby broadening political participation.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Protection of Benefits for Candidates with Disabilities: Section 2(a) ensures that any campaign work performed by a qualified individual, along with any compensation received for that work, is disregarded when determining their eligibility for, and the amount of, benefits under any Federal program or federally funded State or local program. This is a positive outcome because it removes a financial barrier that would otherwise prevent individuals with disabilities from running for public office without fear of losing essential support.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No Negative Impacts Identified: Based on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that create negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — The bill expands rights and protections for individuals with disabilities by allowing them to campaign for public office without losing access to federally supported benefits. Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill protects Social Security disability benefits for individuals who perform campaign work and receive compensation. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By disregarding campaign income when calculating benefits, the bill prevents individuals with disabilities from falling into poverty due to running for office.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill directly benefits people with disabilities by allowing them to campaign for public office without risking their federally supported benefits. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The legislation protects low-income individuals with disabilities from losing financial assistance when earning campaign income.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make elections run better? — The legislation removes financial barriers for individuals with disabilities to run for elected office, thereby broadening political participation.
- 10/1/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Mary Gay ScanlonDemocrat · Pennsylvania