U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) this month recognized the five-year anniversary of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, a 2014 law that set up tax-exempt savings accounts for disability-related expenses.
“Today we are celebrating the fifth anniversary of the ABLE Act,” Rep. McMorris Rodgers said on Dec. 19. “It comes at a historic time in America when a record number of people with disabilities are coming off the sidelines and finding a job — a job that means so much more than a paycheck. It’s foundational to building a better life.”
The congresswoman, who serves as the ranking member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, said that her son, Cole, who was born with Down syndrome, is now a thriving 12-year-old.
“I’ve learned not to put any limitations on him. He’s inspired me to be an ability advocate because he’s opened my eyes to the value and potential of every life,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. “That’s what ABLE accounts are all about. They are helping people with disabilities at every stage of their lives.”
For instance, an ABLE Section 529A tax-exempt savings account allows people to invest in their education, pay for medical expenses, and look for a job, she said.
“When they find a job, it can even help them cover the cost of getting to work,” added the lawmaker. “In short, ABLE puts our focus on every person’s abilities and God-given talents, not their limitations.”
Rep. McMorris Rodgers also said the nation needs “more solutions that build on the legacy of the ABLE Act.”
“That means further closing the gap between the many Americans with disabilities looking for work and the fraction of those who find it,” she added.