Families with developmentally disabled children carry a heavy financial burden, and face tremendous challenges as they care for their young ones. We must provide these families with some much-needed relief.

The Families of Developmentally Disabled Children Tax Fairness Act, which I cosponsored, would create an annual tax credit of $2,000 for each developmentally disabled child. It would cover behavioral, speech, occupational and physical therapies as well as other specific services. The credit would be indexed for inflation and phase out for families with an adjusted gross income of more than $150,000.

My colleagues and I, especially those who serve as advocates for children with Autism, and other disorders like Down Syndrome, Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, Fragile X and Tuberous Sclerosis, recognize that these children should receive therapies, tailored to meet their needs, so they can live their lives to the fullest.

It's time for us to lend a helping hand to these families, and this bill is a good first step.