Recent Press Releases and News

WASHINGTON, DC – In recognition of National Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Week, Congressman Ander Crenshaw, Co-Chairman of the Congressional Crohn’s and Colitis Caucus, today (12/4) urged all Americans to join in the fight to find the cause and cure for the devastating disease. He submitted the following Extension of Remarks in the official Congressional Record.

“I rise today in observance of National IBD Awareness Week, December 1-7, 2014, which bring attention to over 1.4 million Americans affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD. These disorders impact the gastrointestinal tract, the area of the body where digestion takes place. They cause inflammation of the intestine, which leads to ongoing symptoms and complications.

“Although anyone can get IBD, it is most commonly diagnosed in adolescents and young adults between 15 and 25 years old. There is currently no known cause or cure for IBD, and individuals with IBD may suffer from various symptoms from mild to severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and intestinal bleeding. The impacts are devastating to both patients and their families.

“While we still do not have all the answers, there is hope. An increasing number of genes have been identified – over 100 today - that may cause an increase in the risk of developing IBD, confirming that IBD has a strong genetic component. With these discoveries and new technological advances, researchers are working furiously to find cures.

Despite this, the unpredictable nature of these painful and debilitating digestive diseases creates a significant burden on the community and economy. Every year, there is more than $1.26 billion in direct and indirect costs to the US healthcare system due to hospitalizations as a result of IBD complications.

“As the co-chair of the Crohn’s and Colitis Caucus, a bi-partisan group of Congressional Members dedicated to educating the public and other Members on IBD, I urge my fellow Caucus members and colleagues to join me in recognizing IBD Awareness week and the millions of Americans suffering from this disease. I would also like to take this time to honor my colleague and fellow co-chair, Jim Moran, for his leadership over the years in improving access to treatments for IBD for this vulnerable population. He has been an incredible partner in this fight to prevent and cure IBD. He will be missed in this Chamber as he moves on to the next chapter in his life.

“With the support of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, I encourage all Americans to join in the fight to cure, raise awareness, and increase research on this debilitating disease. Together, with the help of researchers, educators, medical professionals, patients, and families, we can find a cure and end this devastating disease for millions of people around the world.”

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WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Ander Crenshaw, Chairman of the House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, today (12/3) led the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (H.R. 647) to passage in the United States House of Representatives with a wide bipartisan vote that marks approval of the first major legislative reform to impact individuals living with disabilities since the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act.

The ABLE Act, landmark legislation that amends the Internal Revenue Service code to create tax-free savings accounts for individuals with disabilities, passed by a vote of 404-17 and now moves to the United States Senate.

Crenshaw, who addressed his colleagues from the well of the House floor prior to the vote, issued the following statement on the reform he has championed since 2006 when he first introduced seed legislation to create ABLE accounts:

“Congress can work together for the good of others, and passage of the ABLE Act proves it. Millions of Americans living with disabilities are now on a path to a brighter future, and I couldn’t be more proud of more grateful for the team effort that has led to this day.

“Those who face the day-to-day struggle of living with disabilities that others of us can only imagine have a new tool to use in planning for the years ahead – tax-free savings accounts. No longer will they have to watch from the sidelines as other Americans access IRS-sanctioned tools to plan for their future. They will have the option to use ABLE accounts as their compass to set a course for a brighter future.

“In this great and prosperous nation, everyone deserves a shot at the American Dream. With determination, focus, teamwork, and sheer willpower, we’ve opened a door to a brighter future that might otherwise have remained closed. That’s a cause worth fighting for.”

Senator Robert Casey (D-PA), lead Senate sponsor of the ABLE Act in the Senate, issued the following comment on House passage, “I’m pleased that the House was able to come together on a bipartisan vote to pass the ABLE Act. It’s now time for the Senate to take up this legislation and send it to the President’s desk so more families who have a child with a disability can save for their long term care.”

Debbie Revels, President of the Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville and mother of a son born with Down syndrome, was in the House gallery watching the vote and later said: “I applaud and thank Ander Crenshaw for his leadership in moving this historic bill through the House. Passage of the ABLE act gives individuals in the disability community the opportunity to plan and save for their futures. Pursuing their dreams can now become a reality!”

BACKGROUND: H.R. 647 has the support of a majority of Congress (380 House co-sponsors, 74 Senate co-sponsors) and amends Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986 to create tax-free savings accounts for qualified expenses. Benefits provided through private insurance, the Medicaid program, the beneficiary’s employment, and other sources would be supplemented, but not supplanted by the legislation.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Further details on the ABLE Act can be found at www.crenshaw.house.gov

Recent Speeches and Statements

Congressman Ander Crenshaw commended the heroism of the late WWII Veteran Clyde L. Hillhouse in a floor speech and urged colleagues to pass legislation naming the White Springs, Florida Post Office in his honor.
Congressman Crenshaw addresses his House colleagues on on November 7, 2009 with concerns over how health care reform will impact the nation's military.

Recent Audio and Video