[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16352-16353]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    RAISING DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this weekend I will be 
joining countless advocates in Centre County, Pennsylvania, for a Buddy

[[Page 16353]]

Walk hosted by the National Down Syndrome Society. These walks have 
been held across the Nation for the past 20 years, raising awareness 
and promoting self-advocacy for those living with Down Syndrome. In 
spite of some extra challenges, many people with Down Syndrome attend 
school, work, and contribute to society in a wide variety of ways.
  In order to provide those living with Down Syndrome and other 
disabilities the best start possible, I was happy to cosponsor, along 
with a majority of my colleagues in the House, the Achieving a Better 
Life Experience, or ABLE, Act, which was signed into law last year.
  This law allows people with disabilities and their families to create 
a flexible account to help save for medical and dental care, education, 
community-based support, employment training, housing, and 
transportation.
  In my home State of Pennsylvania, State legislation that will allow 
deductions of account contributions from State taxable income has been 
introduced in the Commonwealth's house and senate. I urge their passage 
to complete the work the Federal Government has started.

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