Columbia News

U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt's ENABLE Act has successfully passed the U.S. Senate, marking a significant development for individuals with disabilities and their families. The legislation, formally known as the Ensuring Nationwide Access to Better Life Experience (ENABLE) Act, aims to preserve and expand Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts. These accounts are crucial for allowing people with disabilities to save and invest through tax-free savings without losing eligibility for federal programs like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

The ENABLE Act was incorporated into the broader legislative package called One Big Beautiful Bill after efforts by Senator Schmitt to secure its inclusion. Speaking about the bill's passage, Senator Schmitt stated, “Individuals with disabilities and their families deserve stability and financial security as they plan for their future. My ENABLE Act will expand savings and investment opportunities, giving families and Missourians with disabilities the certainty they deserve. I am grateful for the support of my colleagues and look forward to seeing President Trump sign this important legislation into law.”

The act is backed by numerous organizations, including Autism Speaks, Edward Jones, Microsoft, the National Down Syndrome Society, among others.

Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek also expressed his support: “As administrator of the Missouri Achieving a Better Life Experience (MOABLE) Program, I applaud Senator Schmitt for championing the ENABLE Act. This commonsense legislation will help break down barriers that have too often prevented individuals with disabilities from fully accessing the benefits of employment."

Malek emphasized that by enabling employer contributions to ABLE accounts in place of traditional retirement plans, the ENABLE Act ensures workers with disabilities do not have to choose between employment and critical federal benefits.

The passage of this bill represents an advancement toward greater financial independence for individuals with disabilities while maintaining essential security.