The Stephen Beck, Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014
The Stephen Beck, Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014
Public Policy Victory of the Year
The Stephen Beck, Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) Act was signed into law on December 19, 2014 after many years of advocacy and bipartisan work in both the House and Senate. The law allows eligible individuals with disabilities the ability to establish “ABLE accounts” for qualified beneficiaries that resemble the qualified tuition programs, often called “529 accounts”, that have been established under that section of the tax code since 1996. The new ABLE accounts will allow the person with a disability more individual choice and control over spending on qualified disability expenses and limited investment decisions, while protecting eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, and other important federal benefits for people with disabilities. Without these accounts, many people with disabilities have very limited avenues to save and allow for further independence. The passage of this bill comes after years of advocacy by Members of Congress and leaders in the disability community. Honorees include:
Congressman Ander Crenshaw (FL-4)
Congressman Chris Van Hollen (MD-8)
Senator Richard Burr (NC)
Senator Bob Casey (PA)
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23)
House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (TX-32)House Republican Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-5)
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (UT)
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (OR)
Sara Wolff – A powerful self-advocate who has long supported the passage of the ABLE Act. She has worked closely with the lead sponsors of this bill in Congress and participated in a number of national events to raise awareness and promote passage.
Stephen Beck (honored posthumously, his wife Catherine Beck accepted the award on his behalf) – For years, Stephen Beck was the driving force behind this bill. He dedicated nights and weekends on top of his full time job to lobby Members of Congress and work with national organizations like The Arc to support passage.
John Ariale – John Ariale is the former Chief of Staff for Chief of Representative Ander Crenshaw. He drafted and steered the ABLE Act through the 8+ year process, leading to its final passage last year.