Hudson: Creating opportunity for those who need it most

For individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities and their families, every day brings new challenges. While some of the brightest, most thoughtful and hardest-working Americans are those dealing with disabilities, it’s tough living in a world where rules and programs work against them. Government needs to be in the business of creating genuine opportunity for everyone — especially for these folks who need it most. We need to focus on ways to empower individuals with disabilities to be as independent as possible and to achieve their full potential.

In true bipartisan fashion, the House passed the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act. The ABLE Act allows individuals with disabilities and their families to save for expenses through the creation of tax-free savings accounts — the exact same way parents with children currently save for college. Individuals with disabilities already face huge financial burdens, and without the ABLE Act, many aren’t given the chance to save the money they earn. This is a complete disservice to those with disabilities and sets them up for a life of dependence.

The ABLE Act will change that and empower individuals with disabilities to achieve their full potential. It will give those with disabilities the opportunity to save for expenses like medical bills, transportation and housing. This will make a huge difference for so many individuals and families, like Jake, the brother-in-law of a dear friend of mine from back home in North Carolina.

Jake has intellectual disabilities and requires support. From daily living assistance to residential and behavior support, Jake depends on his family for care. He is a gregarious, charismatic individual who has to work harder than most folks to overcome his many obstacles. Jake works part-time, but he can’t work as much as he would like for fear of losing the benefits and assistance his family so desperately needs to help care for him. Jake should be able to take advantage of the exact same financial resources as every other American, and the ABLE Act will help empower him to do just that.

The constant worry of the future is what keeps families like Jake’s awake at night, and the ABLE Act will take that worry away and provide peace of mind. It’s past time we make government work for individuals with disabilities and give them the tools they need to empower themselves. I hope that the Senate and the President will join us in our efforts to make life easier for individuals with disabilities and their families. Folks across the country are thirsting for politicians to put aside petty differences and change their lives for the better. As we move into a new year and a new Congress, I remain committed to doing just that.