The landmark legislation will head to the Senate this week and we'll keep working on it until it passes and is signed into law.

"The MDSC truly appreciates the advocacy efforts of our members," said MDSC Executive Director Maureen Gallagher, "starting with the dozens of dedicated volunteers who joined us at the NDSS Buddy Walk on Washington, not to mention the hundreds of you who made phone calls, sent emails and took to your social networks to get the ABLE Act passed in the House. Now, it's on to the Senate!" 

The measure would allow people with disabilities to set up savings accounts - with no tax on the earnings, similar to 529 college savings accounts - to cover housing, transportation and other expenses. They would be able to build up a financial cushion in their "ABLE accounts" without jeopardizing their eligibility for Medicaid and Social Security benefits. Under current law, to qualify for Medicaid and Social Security disability benefits, people with disabilities cannot have more than $2,000 in assets and cannot earn more than about $680 per month. There are 54 million Americans who have physical or intellectual disabilities, although only a subset of that population would be eligible and able to take advantage of the ABLE Act accounts. Read more about the ABLE Act here.

Arthur McLaughlin was one of the MDSC members who travelled to Washington, D.C. with us last winter to lobby his members of Congress. "The ABLE Act will give our family and our 10 year old grandson, William, who was born with Down syndrome, the ability to save for the future without being hamstrung by the $2,000 asset limit," McLaughlin said. "The ABLE Act will finally give William and other physically and intellectually challenged citizens a real opportunity at independence and rising above the poverty level."

The bill could come up for a vote in the Senate as early as this week. Speaker of the House John Boehner said he's been working with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to make sure there are no last-minute hitches, according to USA Today. 

5 minutes of your time to help with the final push to pass the ABLE Act! Please call your Senators TODAY asking them VOTE YES on the ABLE Act this week! 

For BayStaters, you can reach Sen. Elizabeth Warren's office at (202) 224-4543. Sen. Ed Markey can be reached at 202-224-2742. 

Talking Points:
I am (give your name and where you live). I am a (parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt/uncle, teacher, friend) of a person with Down syndrome. 
 

• I'm calling to ask Senator [Markey/Warren] to VOTE YES to the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act (H.R. 647/S. 313) this week!

• The ABLE Act passed with overwhelming majority in the House Wednesday, December 3rd with 404 Yeas.
   
• The ABLE Act will make a life-changing difference in the lives of the disability community and long overdue- please VOTE YES.

Thank you for making a difference (and an investment in the future of our loved ones)! 

MDSC at the Buddy Walk on Washington with Congressman Bill Keating (2nd from left), a strong supporter of the ABLE Act. MDSC Advocates include (L to R) Maureen Gallagher, Katie Bartlett, Arthur McLaughlin, Colleen Endres and Josh Komyerov.