Yoder attends White House event highlighting ABLE Act

KANSAS CITY, KAN.  – This afternoon, Vice President Joe Biden hosted several Members of Congress and disability advocates at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building for an event highlighting the benefits of the Achieving a Better Life Experiences (ABLE) Act. Representative Kevin Yoder, a cosponsor of the bill, was in attendance.

“Often we focus on the inability of Washington leaders to solve problems facing our country,” Representative Yoder said. “Today we took a moment to celebrate Democrats and Republicans working together to stand up for young Americans with autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental disabilities. Hopefully, this event will add to the momentum we are seeing across the country as states like Kansas begin to implement this new law.”

Passage of the ABLE Act in December changed existing federal law to allow for the creation of ABLE savings accounts, but left implementation up to the states. Therefore, each will have to pass enabling legislation before individuals can begin taking advantage of the new savings tools.

“Two weeks ago, I was proud to join Jawanda and Rachel Mast in testifying before the Kansas House Children and Seniors Committee in Topeka on behalf of the Kansas ABLE Act. Thanks to the continuing efforts of the Mast family, Kansas is on track to become one of the first states in the nation to allow individuals like Rachel to walk into a bank and open an ABLE account. It will provide her with the flexible savings tools to maintain greater financial security and prepare for a future of independent living.”

On February 4, the Kansas House Children and Seniors Committee passed the Kansas ABLE Act with minor amendments.

The bill, HB 2100, is scheduled to be debated before the full Kansas House of Representatives in the coming weeks.

“I’m honored to help lead the charge and be a voice for these families as we seek to provide opportunity for all.”