For as long as I can remember, my parents’ dream for me was to go to college. So when I showed my animals at the 4H fairs, my parents told me, “Cathy, save that money so you can go to college one day.” So I did. I saved hard and dreamed big. Years later, I put on my cap and gown, stood beside my parents and brother, and became the first in my family to graduate from college.

But the journey wasn’t an easy one. Like so many college-bound kids, I was worried about how I would afford my education. I worked at the McDonald’s Drive-Thru in Colville, did work study and cleaned rooms at a local motel – just to be able to pay my way through school. And while I’m still paying off student loans today, I can say with certainty that my education was the best investment I’ve ever made.

Now, as the mother of three, I’m looking toward the future. I want all of my children to have the same opportunities – and more – that I did. That’s for everyone in this country – no matter their walk of life or their family’s income or the challenges they’ve faced.

Fortunately, American families have a powerful tool to help save for the future: 529 college savings plans. In Washington, these plans are called Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET). These accounts are more than just accounts designated for education – they will grow your savings. Family members can deposit money for expenses such as tuition and housing, and 529s can be opened the moment a new WSU Cougar is born.

In 2001, Congress further strengthened these savings by making withdrawal from these accounts tax-free. In less than 15 years, the number of 529 tax savings plans has grown from 1 million to 12 million.

However, red-tape and our complex tax code have kept these accounts from being utilized to their full potential. And not only have tuition costs risen, but educational needs have changed. The university environment you experience today is far more expensive and far different than the one I remember.

That’s why this week the House of Representatives acted to improve and strengthen these 529 accounts. Our legislation includes provisions to have computers covered as an allowable expense – a tool all students need for a successful 21^st-century education.  

This bill also eliminates the massive amount of paperwork that often makes 529 accounts seem like more work than they’re worth. By making access to these tax-free savings accounts easier, more Americans will be able to save for college. And if more Americans are able to save for college, more Americans will be able to pursue the dream of higher education.

Top-down mandates from Washington, D.C. are expensive and out-of-touch, but by focusing on individual student needs, educational opportunities will flourish.

You and I are fortunate to have been able to pursue higher education. But for too many Americans this opportunity seems unrealistic. The action we’ve taken in the House will change the trajectory of life for all Americans across the country.

From flipping burgers at McDonald’s in Colville to walking the halls of Congress so many years later, I never imagined I’d be where I am today. But my college education made it all possible. It changed my life in the same way it will change yours. It’s the foundation of America’s “Opportunity Economy” and a stepping stone for kids all across this country. So let’s make equal opportunity in education a reality.

Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers represents Eastern Washington’s 5^th district, which includes Pullman. She serves as Chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, and is the highest-ranking female in the House of Representatives.