[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16379]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        SUPPORT ABLE ACT OF 2014

  (Mr. FITZPATRICK asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge the House to pass the 
Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014, also known as the ABLE 
Act.
  The ABLE Act would help ease the strain on those with physical and 
mental disabilities by allowing the creation of tax-free savings 
accounts. These savings accounts would work a lot like the popular 529 
college savings plans.
  The accounts could be used to pay for life expenses such as 
education, housing, and transportation. In other words, this bill 
levels the playing field for those with disabilities who cannot make 
use of tax-free college savings plans by giving families an alternative 
tax-free account that they can use.
  It is also important to note that the bill doesn't take away any 
other benefits that those with disabilities might be entitled to; 
rather, it would serve as a supplement, giving these families the 
flexibility to achieve a better life.
  This bill has a tremendous amount of bipartisan support. The ABLE Act 
is an opportunity for this Congress to show that we can work together 
to make a real difference in the lives of American families.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is about empowering those with disabilities 
and their families, and I urge that the House and Senate pass the ABLE 
Act, so that the President can sign it into law before the end of the 
year.

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