[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3503]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY

  (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, I rise today in 
recognition of World Down Syndrome Day, which seeks to draw awareness 
to Down syndrome and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in 
our lives and our communities.
  All of us know someone who lives with Down syndrome, and we know that 
in spite of some extra challenges, they live full and robust lives 
surrounded by family and friends.
  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 in 2014. This 
law empowers people with disabilities and their families to create a 
flexible account to help save for medical and dental care, education, 
community-based employment, community-based support, training, housing, 
and transportation.
  My office participates in the Congressional Internship Program for 
Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. This program, which is a 
partnership with George Mason University's Mason LIFE program, gives 
students with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to gain 
congressional work experience. We have welcomed several bright young 
men and women who have made significant contributions to our office, 
and I am proud to participate in this vital program.

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