Action Alert: Support ABLE Act Which Allows Families to Save for Children with Disabilities

ACTION ALERT: ASK YOUR MEMBER TO SIGN ONTO THE ABLE ACT OF 2009

 

The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) of 2009 (S 493/HR 1205), which is supported by over 40 national disability organizations has been introduced in both the Senate and House.  The ABLE Act will give individuals with disabilities and their families the ability to save for their child's future just like every other American family, and help people with disabilities live full, productive lives in their communities.  

The ABLE Act will allow individuals with disabilities to create a disability savings accounts or 'ABLE Accounts' that would accrue interest tax-free.  The account could fund a variety of essential expenses for the individual, including medical and dental care, education, community based supports, employment training, assistive technology, housing, and transportation.  Importantly,  the legislation prohibits amounts held by, or paid or distributed from any ABLE accounts from being treated as income or assets when determining eligibility for benefits provide by any Federal benefits program.

Asset development is one step toward improving economic self-sufficiency, and the legislation's focus on encouraging asset development will greatly incentivize people with disabilities to live more productive lives through earning and saving resources for their future.

ACTION REQUIRED:

If your Representative and/or Senators are not already a cosponsor of S. 493/H.R. 1205, please call them to cosponsor this important legislation (a list of Members who have already signed on to the bill is included below).

Talking Points to Call Your Senators and Representative:

·      I am calling to ask my [Senator/Representative] to cosponsor the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) of 2009 (S 493/HR 1205) led by Senators Casey (D-PA), Hatch (R-UT), Dodd (D-CT), Brownback (R-KS), and Burr (R-NC) and Representatives Crenshaw (R-FL), Meek (D-FL), Kennedy (D-RI), and McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).

·      The legislation encourages persons with disabilities to save in order to live an independent and meaningful life while reducing their dependency on public benefits.

·      This legislation allows for the establishment of tax-exempt financial security accounts for individuals with disabilities to pay certain expenses, including: medical and dental care, education, community based supports, employment training, assistive technology, housing, and transportation.

If your boss is interested in signing on as a cosponsor, please contact:

• Will Hansen (202-224-6324) in Senator Robert Casey's office
• Dustin Krasny (202-225-2501) in Representative Ander Crenshaw's office

House ABLE Act of 2009 (HR1205) Cosponsors

Rep Crenshaw, Ander [FL-4] - 2/26/2009
Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] - 6/12/2009	Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] - 3/3/2009
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 3/17/2009	Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] - 3/6/2009
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 5/7/2009	Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] - 4/21/2009
Rep Bean, Melissa L. [IL-8] - 3/18/2009	Rep Berkley, Shelley [NV-1] - 3/12/2009
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 5/7/2009	Rep Bishop, Timothy H. [NY-1] - 5/13/2009
Rep Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] - 3/3/2009	Rep Blunt, Roy [MO-7] - 3/3/2009
Rep Boccieri, John A. [OH-16] - 5/21/2009	Rep Bono Mack, Mary [CA-45] - 6/19/2009
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 3/30/2009	Rep Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [GU] - 3/12/2009
Rep Brady, Kevin [TX-8] - 3/6/2009	Rep Braley, Bruce L. [IA-1] - 7/8/2009
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 3/12/2009	Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] - 3/6/2009
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 3/3/2009	Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 4/21/2009
Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] - 4/2/2009	Rep Cantor, Eric [VA-7] - 4/2/2009
Rep Cao, Anh "Joseph" [LA-2] - 7/8/2009	Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] - 5/13/2009
Rep Carson, Andre [IN-7] - 3/18/2009	Rep Chaffetz, Jason [UT-3] - 4/21/2009
Rep Childers, Travis [MS-1] - 5/21/2009	Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 6/19/2009
Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] - 3/17/2009	Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [VA-11] - 7/31/2009
Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] - 5/4/2009	Rep Culberson, John Abney [TX-7] - 6/12/2009
Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] - 3/30/2009	Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 4/21/2009
Rep Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [FL-21] - 3/6/2009	Rep Donnelly, Joe [IN-2] - 10/6/2009
Rep Doyle, Michael F. [PA-14] - 4/27/2009	Rep Dreier, David [CA-26] - 3/17/2009
Rep Driehaus, Steve [OH-1] - 4/30/2009	Rep Ehlers, Vernon J. [MI-3] - 3/17/2009
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 9/10/2009	Rep Ellsworth, Brad [IN-8] - 3/18/2009
Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] - 3/24/2009	Rep Fleming, John [LA-4] - 7/8/2009
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 3/18/2009	Rep Fudge, Marcia L. [OH-11] - 4/30/2009
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] - 4/30/2009	Rep Goodlatte, Bob [VA-6] - 7/17/2009
Rep Gordon, Bart [TN-6] - 3/24/2009	Rep Graves, Sam [MO-6] - 3/3/2009
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 6/12/2009	Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 3/10/2009
Rep Harper, Gregg [MS-3] - 3/3/2009	Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] - 3/24/2009
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 6/26/2009	Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 5/21/2009
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 3/24/2009	Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 3/10/2009
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 6/12/2009	Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 7/8/2009
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 2/26/2009	Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 5/4/2009
Rep King, Peter T. [NY-3] - 4/2/2009	Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 3/6/2009
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 5/13/2009	Rep Kosmas, Suzanne M. [FL-24] - 6/19/2009
Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] - 5/13/2009	Rep Langevin, James R. [RI-2] - 4/21/2009
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 5/4/2009	Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 5/13/2009
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 5/4/2009	Rep Luetkemeyer, Blaine [MO-9] - 4/27/2009
Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] - 6/12/2009	Rep Mack, Connie [FL-14] - 3/18/2009
Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] - 3/24/2009	Rep Massa, Eric J. J. [NY-29] - 5/4/2009
Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] - 4/27/2009	Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] - 4/30/2009
Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] - 7/17/2009	Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 5/21/2009
Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] - 5/4/2009	Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] - 4/21/2009
Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] - 2/26/2009	Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 2/26/2009
Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] - 3/3/2009	Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] - 9/29/2009
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 3/3/2009	Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 3/3/2009
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] - 6/26/2009	Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] - 4/30/2009
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 7/8/2009	Rep Neugebauer, Randy [TX-19] - 4/2/2009
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 3/10/2009	Rep Nunes, Devin [CA-21] - 4/2/2009
Rep Olson, Pete [TX-22] - 3/30/2009	Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 3/3/2009
Rep Paulsen, Erik [MN-3] - 3/6/2009	Rep Payne, Donald M. [NJ-10] - 7/8/2009
Rep Pence, Mike [IN-6] - 3/24/2009	Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 4/30/2009
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 3/6/2009	Rep Posey, Bill [FL-15] - 4/30/2009
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] - 7/31/2009	Rep Reichert, David G. [WA-8] - 7/31/2009
Rep Roe, David P. [TN-1] - 4/2/2009	Rep Rooney, Thomas J. [FL-16] - 4/2/2009
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] - 3/6/2009	Rep Roskam, Peter J. [IL-6] - 3/3/2009
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 3/10/2009	Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 3/3/2009
Rep Sablan, Gregorio [MP] - 4/30/2009	Rep Schauer, Mark H. [MI-7] - 6/26/2009
Rep Schmidt, Jean [OH-2] - 3/30/2009	Rep Schock, Aaron [IL-18] - 5/7/2009
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 3/3/2009	Rep Sestak, Joe [PA-7] - 5/4/2009
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 6/26/2009	Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 3/3/2009
Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 5/13/2009	Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 3/10/2009
Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] - 4/21/2009	Rep Thompson, Glenn [PA-5] - 4/27/2009
Rep Thompson, Mike [CA-1] - 3/17/2009	Rep Tonko, Paul D. [NY-21] - 6/12/2009
Rep Tsongas, Niki [MA-5] - 7/17/2009	Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-3] - 7/8/2009
Rep Welch, Peter [VT] - 4/30/2009	Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 4/21/2009
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 5/4/2009	Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 3/3/2009
Rep Young, C.W. Bill [FL-10] - 3/6/2009	Rep Young, Don [AK] - 5/4/2009

 

Senate ABLE Act of 2009 (S493) Cosponsors

 

Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA]
Sen Brownback, Sam [KS]

Sen Burr, Richard [NC] - 2/26/2009

Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT]

Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] - 2/26/2009

Sen Kennedy, Edward M. [MA]

Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 4/22/2009

Sen Risch, James E. [ID] - 4/30/2009

Sen Specter, Arlen [PA]

Sen Wicker, Roger F. [MS]

Sen Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY] - 7/30/2009

Sen Whitehouse, Sheldon [RI] - 10/1/2009

 

 

 

Comments

[Jose']

I think this ACT schould go through because i think it would work and it sounds like somethin that would have been good for me along time ago, I am now 18 and I have ben legally disabled with other numerous medical issues since I was born and i know how it feels when my family has no money for extra supplies for me that I needed. Rite now I am still in a loss of help for medical supplies, I do not have enough for this month, since I turned 18 in aguast I have had to apply for everything again and it as takin months I need somethin now not later. This ABLE ACt could have saved me and my family alot of stress and hard times

[Jose']

If their is anyway to get more info on this plz send it to me, I am doing a debate in my school on this and i really want it to win