Van Hollen Voices Support for Maryland ABLE Bill

Dear Chairman Kasemeyer, Vice Chairman Madaleno, and Committee Members:

I am writing to thank you for scheduling a hearing on the Maryland Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) bill (SB 355) for February 24, and I especially want to thank Senator Feldman for sponsoring this bill. As you may know, I was the lead House Democratic sponsor of the Stephen Beck, Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act and played an active role in its enactment. It levels the playing field for families with children with disabilities through equal access to tax-free savings accounts to provide for their children's futures. Over 85 percent of the United States Congress supported the federal ABLE Act, and I am hopeful it will receive the same level of widespread, bipartisan backing in the Maryland state legislature.

The ABLE Act provides individuals with disabilities a way to save and plan for their future -- for education, medical care, and a range of other needs to ensure they are able to reach their full potential. Thousands of Maryland residents will benefit from this program and will look to your leadership in giving the citizens of our state the opportunity to open ABLE accounts and save money to live meaningful, productive, and independent lives.

Thank you for all you do for our state, and for anything you can do to expedite the establishment of an ABLE program in the State of Maryland.

Sincerely,

Chris Van Hollen
Member of Congress

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