With the U.S. House overwhelmingly passing his Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act this week, U.S. Rep. Ander Crensahw, R-Fla., the chairman of the House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, will present the Republican Weekly Address on Saturday.
Crenshaws bill would create tax-free savings accounts for disabled Americans for qualified expenses and passed on a 404-17 vote on Wednesday. Now it faces a vote in the Senate where it has 74 co-sponsors. On Saturday, Crenshaw will join two other Republicans in the House -- Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington and Pete Sessions of Texas -- to talk about the legislation.
"Millions of Americans living with disabilities are now on a path to a brighter future, and I couldn't be more proud or more grateful for the team effort that led to House passage of the ABLE Act," said Crenshaw on Friday. "I am hopeful for Senate passage of this landmark legislation next week so Congress can send the bill to the president to be signed into law.
"Those who face the day-to-day struggle of living with disabilities that others of us can only imagine have a new tool to use in planning for the years ahead -- tax-free savings accounts," Crenshaw continued. "No longer will they have to watch from the sidelines as other Americans access IRS-sanctioned tools to plan for their future. They will have the option to use ABLE accounts as their compass to set a course for a brighter future."
"In this great and prosperous nation, everyone deserves a shot at the American dream," said Crenshaw in conclusion. "With determination, focus, teamwork, and sheer willpower, we've opened a door to a brighter future that might otherwise have remained closed. That's a cause worth fighting for."
Crenshaw first introduced the bill in 2006. Speaking to Sunshine State News on Wednesday, Crenshaw said he expected quick action in the Senate, where the bill is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and expects it will soon be on President Barack Obamas desk.
The Republican leadership trumpeted the bill after its passage.
The House took a simple, but powerful step to help individuals with disabilities across the country, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said this week. Its been a long time in the making and I want to thank Ander Crenshaw, and Cathy McMorris Rodgers, and Pete Sessions -- three of our members whove dedicated an awful lot of time and effort to this project.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
