Down syndrome advocates:
This week, October 7-11, is ABLE Act advocacy week. NDSC and other national disability organization members are asked to e-mail, write and call Congressional offices to advocate passage of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (S. 313/HR. 647). This legislation, if passed, would allow establishment of a savings account for individuals with disabilities (for disability-related expenses) without losing important federal disability benefits. Currently, if an individual's assets exceed $2000 they may lose Social Security and Medicaid benefits.An ABLE account would allow an individual to save up to $100,000.
The bill currently has 269 cosponsors in the House and 46 cosponsors in the Senate. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is being led by Representatives Van Hollen, Crenshaw, Sessions, and McMorris Rodgers, and Senators Casey and Burr.
We need your help this week! If your Senators and Representative are not co-sponsors, please contact him or her and ask that they do so.
To find out the name and contact information for your Congressional Representatives, go to: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
To find out if your two senators and representative are cosponsoring the ABLE Act of 2013, visit the links below:
Senate ABLE Act Cosponsors
House ABLE Act Cosponsors
Your message is:
Please cosponsor the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. The ABLE Act is similar to 529 (college savings) accounts. The ABLE Act will enable families to put money aside for their family member with a disability for disability related expenses.
If your Senator or Representative wishes to co-sponsor, have them contact:
Senate: Senator Casey's staffer, Jennifer McCloskey at Jennifer_McCloskey@casey.senate.gov.
House: Senator Crenshaw's staffer, Jennifer Debes at Jennifer.Debes@mail.house.gov
