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A post shared by Cathy McMorris Rodgers (@cathymcmorris) on Dec 19, 2018 at 6:43am PST

Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) released the following statement recognizing the four year anniversary of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act, which created Section 529A tax-exempt savings accounts for disability-related expenses.

“My oldest, Cole, is 11 years old. Like many boys his age, he plays basketball and other sports. He finds joy in learning, recently started playing guitar, and is great at math. He’s also a wonderful big brother to his two sisters, Grace and Brynn. Cole was born with Down syndrome, and like everyone else, he has dreams and aspirations. He wants to go to college and find a career. He often says he wants to be ‘a firefighter, football player, or race car driver.’

“For me, ensuring those who are part of the disability community have every possible chance to live happy, healthy, and productive lives is not just good policy, it’s personal. That’s why today, I’m proud we are celebrating the fourth anniversary of the ABLE Act becoming law. It marked a new chapter filled opportunity and independence for Cole and the millions of Americans, like him, living with a disability.

“From the ABLE Act to expanding ABLE accounts in tax reform, we’ve made amazing progress the past four years–progress that has encouraged us to focus on people’s abilities, not their limitations. Of course, there is always more work to be done. As ability advocates, we must continue to explore new frontiers and advance solutions that empower more people to reach their full God-given potential, especially in America’s growing economy. That means further closing the gap between the many Americans with disabilities looking for work and the fraction of those who find it. The 7 million open jobs in this country mean so much more than just a paycheck. Every single one is an opportunity for someone to build a better life.”