Democracy still works best when both sides of the aisle try to row the boat in the same direction.

Differences in detail and often philosophy are inevitable, but common ground exists on many (and probably most) issues. Such was true when the House Ways and Means Committee passed the Setting Up Every Community for Retirement Enhancement Act (SECURE) of 2019.

It’s a long title that was apparently designed to create a cool acronym. The purpose of making older Americans more financially “secure,” though is the coolest part of all.

The bill must now move through Congress and toward President Trump’s desk for signature. There is no reason for this not to happen in short order.

The act expands opportunities for Americans to increase retirement savings. It also improves their ability to move lifetime income options from one plan to another.

Americans reaching retirement age face decisions that have multiplied in the past generation. The stakes have been raised. The American dream of hard work, sensible spending and saving and the reward of a decent and dignified retirement is no longer taken for granted - if ever it was.

As retirement age nears, working citizens grapple with choices of which funds and options make the most sense, which have the least risk or offer the highest possible benefit, and how much flexibility is needed. The psychological aspect of these choices can be as challenging as the choices themselves.

For millions of Americans, the fear or concern that a lifetime plan can unravel at the goal line is very real.

What distinguishes this bill is not just the need, but the support it received in the Ways and Means Committee, which is chaired by Springfield Democrat Richard Neal. It was backed by Democrats from Wisconsin and Massachusetts (Rep. Ron Kind, who has been working on it for some time, and Neal) and Republicans from Texas and Pennsylvania (Kevin Brady and Mike Kelly).

It’s an encouraging reminder that even while bipartisan bickering produces headlines, it’s bipartisan work that can still produce meaningful results. This is actually what Neal does best and where he is most comfortable. On such an issue as giving retirees a better chance to maximize the fruits of their careers, neither party should be opposed.

This bill is precisely the type of wonky, unspectacular and detailed legislation that often separates the true public servants from the political celebrities. This law will not lead the nightly news at CNN or Fox, but it has the potential to positively and directly impact many Americans.

Let’s hope the bill moves to passage in the same professional manner it went through Ways and Means. Plenty of emotional issues promise to divide Democrats and Republicans, but this should not be one of them.

If Congress is serious about serving the needs of the people, it will be able to identify and address many more.