Advocates urge swift Senate vote on disability aid

[TexasTowelie]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supporters of legislation that would allow Americans with disabilities to open tax-free savings accounts to pay for long-term expenses are urging a swift vote in the Senate after the House overwhelmingly passed the bill.

The Republican-led House voted 404-17 Wednesday to approve the most sweeping legislation to help the disabled in a quarter-century, paving the way for creation of the savings accounts next year. It was an unusual moment of bipartisanship in a Congress sharply divided over immigration, taxes and spending.

"Today is a tremendous day for people with disabilities," said William Daroff of the Jewish Federations of North America, which co-chairs the Jewish Disability Network. "We look forward to working with President Obama and the 74 senators co-sponsoring the ABLE Act, and we urge lawmakers to move forward with this bill."

With more than 85 percent of Congress listed as co-sponsors, the measure was expected to get final approval in the Senate. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., the bill's main Senate sponsor, cheered the House passage as a significant step toward providing people with disabilities "the added security they need."

Read more: http://www.themonitor.com/news/apnews/advocates-urge-swift-senate-vote-on-disability-aid/article_68375c9d-20d4-5bb0-afe3-337f215ef209.html