Wednesday, April 25, 2012

ABLE ACT CALL IN DAY TODAY!

National ABLE Act Call-In Day is Today!
Steps to Take Action -- Easy as 1 – 2- 3

1) Find out if your two Senators and your Representative have signed onto the ABLE Act by clicking on the links below (under cosponsors):

House: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr3423

Senate: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s1872

If any of your Members have NOT signed onto the ABLE Act, please call their Washington, DC offices (click here to find out the phone number).

Begin the call by introducing yourself and asking to speak with your Member’s disability legislative staffer. (Note: You may need to leave a voice mail or call back, if the disability staffer does not answer)

2) Follow this ABLE Act phone script: Once you have the staffer on the line, open and introduce yourself with:

• “Hello, I am calling to ask my [Senator/Representative] to be a cosponsor of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act.”

• I am a constituent from your [State/District] and am a self-advocate, parent, sibling, grandparent, etc. from the [insert disability] community.

Talking Points to Mention During Your Call:

• The ABLE Act (S. 1872/HR 3423) currently has over 134 cosponsors in the House and 14 in the Senate. This bipartisan bill was introduced by: o Senators Casey (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) as S. 1872 o Representatives Crenshaw (R-FL), McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), and Van Hollen (D-MD) as H.R. 3423

• The bill has been endorsed by over 50 national, state, and local disability organizations.

• This bill would utilize the 529 education saving accounts program with which thousands of Americans are already familiar. As with the existing 529 accounts, contributions to ABLE accounts would grow tax free and would be easy and inexpensive to create.

  • The ABLE Act will give individuals with disabilities and their families the ability to plan and save for their child's future just like every other American family, and help people with disabilities live full, productive lives in their communities without losing benefits provided through private insurances, the Medicaid program, the supplemental security income program, the beneficiary’s employment, and other sources.

• The account could fund a variety of essential expenses for individuals, including medical and dental care, education, community based supports, employment training, assistive technology, housing, and transportation.

• The ABLE Act provides individuals with disabilities the same types of flexible savings tools that all other Americans have through college savings accounts, health savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts.

If your Member is interested in signing on as a cosponsor, please have them contact:

• Senate: Sen. Casey/Jennifer McCloskey (Jennifer_Mccloskey@casey.senate.gov)

• House: Rep. Crenshaw/Jennifer Debes (Jennifer.Debes@mail.house.gov)

3) Let Us Know About Your Call: Please let us know about your conversation Email (insert organization contact) to let us know who you spoke with and what they had to say about the bill. We can help by following up with their DC office.

For more information about the ABLE Act, please use the following resources:

ABLE Act one-pager •

The ABLE Act - The 112th Congress •

ABLE Act Gains Support from 49 National, State, and Local Advocacy Organizations