{"id":9148,"date":"2014-12-06T22:57:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-06T22:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/house-overcomes-partisan-bickering-to-pass-disabilities-bill-27101\/"},"modified":"2014-12-06T22:57:00","modified_gmt":"2014-12-06T22:57:00","slug":"house-overcomes-partisan-bickering-to-pass-disabilities-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2014\/12\/house-overcomes-partisan-bickering-to-pass-disabilities-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"House overcomes partisan bickering to pass disabilities bill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Washington D.C., Dec 6, 2014 \/ 03:57 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- After eight years in legislative limbo, a bill helping those with disabilities to save in tax-exempt accounts and still receive federal benefits passed the House overwhelmingly Dec. 3.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cTonight the House spoke for millions of Americans with disabilities,\u201d stated Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), who is mother to a child with Down syndrome. \u201cI know firsthand how federal policies can limit the opportunities for those with disabilities. The ABLE Act will change that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe ABLE Act \u2013 \u201cAchieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014\u201d \u2013 passed the House 404-17 and a vote is expected in the Senate before Congress adjourns for Christmas break. In a Congress maligned as a \u201cdo-nothing\u201d body, members applauded and cheered its passage \u2013 something seldom seen on the House floor.<\/p>\n

\tThe act created tax-exempt accounts to be used for disability expenses like housing, transportation and health-related expenses. These assets would not disqualify someone from Medicaid benefits, something people with disabilities have struggled with in the past, having reported too many assets to qualify for such benefits.<\/p>\n

\tDespite widespread support, the bill was hung up with Republican leadership because of its cost. Eventually members voted to offset its $2 billion cost through Medicare cuts, which some Democrats staunchly opposed because of the precedent it would set.<\/p>\n

\tBut in the midst of this opposition, the bill attracted a landslide of bipartisan support. Eighty-five percent of House members were co-sponsors and the majority of both Republicans and Democrats voted for its passage.<\/p>\n

\tCongressman Chris van Hollen (D-Md.) cheered the bill\u2019s bipartisan backing.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cPassage of the ABLE Act shows what\u2019s possible when Democrats and Republicans work together to find common ground to improve people\u2019s lives, and I\u2019m proud to be part of the bipartisan effort to get this initiative over the finish line,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n

\tRep. Pete Sessions (R-Tex.), called the bill\u2019s passage a victory for families of those with disabilities.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cAs the proud father of a young man with Down syndrome, I believe that ensuring a sound financial future for our loved ones with disabilities is of the utmost importance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cToday\u2019s passage of the ABLE Act, a top legislative priority of mine, is a victory for all individuals with disabilities and their families. This bipartisan, bicameral package represents what Congress can do when it works together towards a common goal.\u201d
\n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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Washington D.C., Dec 6, 2014 \/ 03:57 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- After eight years in legislative limbo, a bill helping those with disabilities to save in tax-exempt accounts and still receive federal benefits passed the House overwhelmingly Dec. 3.<\/p>\n

\t&ldquo…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-us"],"yoast_head":"\nHouse overcomes partisan bickering to pass disabilities bill<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Washington D.C., Dec 6, 2014 \/ 03:57 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- After eight years in legislative limbo, a bill helping those with disabilities to save in tax-exempt accounts and still receive federal benefits passed the House overwhelmingly Dec. 3. &ldquo...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2014\/12\/house-overcomes-partisan-bickering-to-pass-disabilities-bill\/\" \/>\n<meta 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