Recognizing the importance of increasing awareness of autism, supporting programs for increased research and improved treatment of autism, improving training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to rise in strong support and as a cosponsor of H. Res. 605, recognizing the importance of increasing awareness of autism. Autism spectrum disorders and related developmental disabilities affect one in every 166 children--a dramatic increase from a decade ago when the prevalence was thought to be one in every 10,000. Prevalence is thought to be increasing by 10-17 percent annually, yet there remains little public awareness and understanding regarding these conditions.

Autism is a brain disorder, affecting a child's ability to communicate and interact socially. Parents of children with autism require a great deal of patience and support to properly care for these children. Congress must raise awareness of these conditions so that these parents receive the support of their communities and the expert assistance of trained medical professionals and teachers, regardless of income level.

It is not enough, however, to simply recognize the needs of people living with autism. As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to follow through on commitments we have already made to the parents and teachers of these children. The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act requires the Federal Government to allocate funding for 40 percent of the cost of educating children with disabilities. Since this law was passed in 1991, Congress has never appropriated sufficient resources to meet this requirement. States are left to cover the costs of funding- intensive programs, such as special education programs for children with autism. As a result of insufficient funding, special education programs are chronically plagued by insufficient staffing, resources and training.

Congress must also provide resources to diagnose and treat children with autism before they reach school age, through training programs for medical professionals and initiatives designed to reach and treat autistic children during the crucial early stages of development. Medical professionals need to be educated so that they are aware of and recognize autism and its related disorders. Too often parents

are told not to worry if their child is slower than same age peers, especially if that child is a boy. Precious time is lost waiting for children to ``grow out'' of their symptoms when that time could be spent receiving early intervention services.

It is important to recognize scientifically valid methods that are effective in working with people with autism. At this time, there is no cure for autism. There are, however, many effective methodologies that can improve the lives of children with autism, and Congress has a responsibility to recognize and fund practitioners and trainers of these methodologies, while also educating parents on the limitations of current treatment so that they do not fall victim to unscrupulous individuals promising easy cures.

Teachers, therapists and doctors who treat children with autism are true American heroes and deserve the best training, support and recognition we can provide. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize some of the leading organizations in the fight for proper treatment, care and research, such as the Autism Society of America, Cure Autism Now, the National Alliance for Autism Research and Unlocking Autism.

I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for introducing this important resolution, and I urge my colleagues to vote for it. I also urge my colleagues to promote sufficient funding this year to address the critical needs this condition presents to people living with autism nationwide.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 605) recognizing the importance of increasing awareness of autism, supporting programs for increased research and improved treatment of autism, improving training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 605, a resolution that recognizes the importance of increasing awareness of autism, supporting programs for increased research and improved treatment of autism, and improving training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism.

Autism is a developmental disability that usually appears, unfortunately, in very young children. We all have friends who are experiencing the tragedy, and God knows it is a tragedy, of having a child diagnosed that is autistic. What that does to a family we can only try to imagine. The least that we can do is to encourage more research and awareness and education among all families.

The disease impacts the normal development of the brain that controls social interaction and communication skills. Autism is four times more prevalent in boys and knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries.

More than 500,000 people in the United States today have some form of autism, making it the third most common developmental disability. Many people are surprised to learn that autism is more common than Downs Syndrome.

While we are finding better ways to understand and work with autistic individuals, the disease is still greatly misunderstood. The majority of individuals, including health care professionals, are still unaware of how autism affects people and how to effectively work with the individuals with the disease.

However, some progress has been made. A few years ago, most people with autism were eventually placed in institutions. Today, even the most severely autistic disabled can be taught skills to assist their development due to the development of individualized services and programs.

We are all extremely concerned about this disease. This resolution stresses that early diagnosis and treatment are essential to ensuring a better quality of life for individuals with autism. However, early diagnosis and treatment can only occur with increased awareness, and that is much of what we try to do with this resolution; and that is why, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this good bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry), a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), who, along with the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney), is the author of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/4\ minutes to the gentleman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy) where I grew up.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon).

Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to have heard the gentleman's remarks. I know we all are.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for introducing this bill. He is a good buddy on the committee. I appreciate his concern over this issue.

My grandson became autistic 2 days after he received nine shots in one day, seven of which contained a substance called thimerosal, which is 50 percent mercury. We have gone from one in 10,000 children in this country that are autistic to now there is one in 166. As the gentleman from Massachusetts just said, it is four times more prevalent in boys than it is in young girls.

There are probably many causes of autism, but one of the causes of autism according to scientists and doctors that we have had before my committee from around the world is having the substance of mercury injected into children's bodies at a very, very young age. Mercury, we know, is a very toxic substance. It is one where if you have it spilled on the ground, they will evacuate the room until they get it cleaned up. Yet in most childhood vaccinations up until just recently, they had a substance in there called thimerosal which is a preservative, and it was 50 percent ethyl mercury. Children get as many as 30 shots before they start to grade school and mercury has a cumulative effect in the brain. It is no wonder in my opinion that we now have one in 166 children that are autistic where it used to be one in 10,000 just about 10 or 15 years ago.

We have to get mercury, as one of the causes of autism, out of all vaccinations for children. We have gotten it out of all of them but three, but we still have some of those vaccinations that are on the shelves that are being used by doctors that continue to use these vaccinations that have mercury in them.

I would just like to say to the CDC and the FDA today, we ought to get all those things off the shelves, all those vaccinations off the shelves that contain mercury so we can protect our children; and the three vaccinations that still contain ethyl mercury in the form of thimerosal, we need to get those changed as quickly as possible and go to single-shot vials that do not require these preservatives.

I also want to say to my colleagues that are concerned not only about children but about adults, many, many of the adult vaccinations like the flu vaccine that we get every year to protect this population against the ravages of flu contain thimerosal or mercury. It should not be in any vaccination that human beings are getting. Mercury is toxic to the human body, and it should be taken away and should be eliminated. Our soldiers in the Persian Gulf, in Iraq, get as many as 11 shots in one day. Many of those shots contain thimerosal, which is 50 percent mercury. We need to get it out of there.

In addition to that, as this resolution states very clearly, and I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for this, we need more research to find out all of the causes of autism so that the children that are coming into the world today are going to be protected in the years to come. The cost to the taxpayers, to this country, is huge. They estimate that there is $90 billion in costs right now when you add up everything as far as the damages to the human beings in this country that are becoming autistic.

We have got a huge problem now, but down the road, these people are not going to die; they are going to grow old and live long lives. Somebody is going to have to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. We need to find a cure for autism, and we need to get mercury out of all vaccines.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues this afternoon speaking in favor of H. Res. 605. H. Res. 605 is an important step to raise national awareness about autism by designating the month of April as National Autism Month. In addition, H. Res. 605 recognizes the prevalence of autism, the need to support programs for research and treatment of autism, and the importance of improving training and support for individuals with autism and their caregivers.

Autism is a debilitating developmental disability affecting the ability of individuals to communicate and interact with others. It is estimated that 1 of every 166 children in the United States has an autism spectrum disorder. In my home state of Utah, it is estimated that 4 in every 10,000 children have autism spectrum disorders.

However, statistics on the prevalence of autism can be difficult to obtain. Registries are relatively new and voluntary, hindering the collection of this data. But, efforts to record the incidence of autism are an important step in raising awareness and unlocking this developmental disorder. Important efforts are being undertaken in Utah, through the Utah Registry of Autism and Developmental Disabilities, to determine and monitor the number of children in Utah with autism. This identification process is an important first step in raising awareness, quantifying need, and creating the necessary networks to provide adequate support.

Autism is best treated when diagnosed early. Usually, diagnosis occurs within the first three years of life. Improving awareness does not just mean counting people, it means identifying children with autism early, by ensuring that primary care providers are aware of the signs of autism. Early identification can assist in earlier access to appropriate treatment for these children, and early intervention can improve the long-term outcomes.

In addition, expanding awareness is about training and services, both for children, their families, and their caregivers and educators. Too often children with autism do not receive the highly trained, skilled services that they need. Autism can overwhelm both the child and those who must care for them without adequate preparation or support. Improving professional development, support networks, and assistance available to the caregivers of individuals with autism is critical. It is necessary to adequately fund and support special education and train specialized teachers. It is also critical to recognize the potential that individuals with autism can have when provided with appropriate educational opportunities and employment training. With these on-going interventions and supports, individuals with autism can achieve their fullest potentials.

Finally, increasing awareness must involve greater focus on research related to autism. It must include research into causes, treatments, and even potential cures. Autism is a complex challenge that requires some of the best scientific and medical attention our nation has to offer. Federal support for research on autism has been growing, but additional efforts will be critical in finding the answers to the many questions that autism poses.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion I want to recognize the courage and the commitment of the individuals, families, and professionals for whom autism is a reality of daily life. They are truly committed to caring and making progress, and I am happy to support them in this effort to increase the national awareness of autism.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 605, a resolution recognizing the importance of increasing awareness of autism, supporting programs for increased research and improved treatment of autism, and improving training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism.

Even though autism is one of the most common developmental disorders affecting children, it is still poorly understood throughout

the medical community, producing great frustration among concerned parents. For reasons that are far from clear, children with autism often lack the normal means of communicating and interacting with others, making their transitions to adult society extraordinarily difficult.

Achieving a better understanding of autism will take time, money, and the dedication of researchers and volunteers across the country. That is why I call on my colleagues to support additional funding for autism research and surveillance activities performed by the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health. It is also vital that we support the basic science research being performed at the National Science Foundation and other institutions, which provide the knowledge base for the more advanced health research performed by medical researchers.

One of the key questions that these researchers are trying to answer is the potential of a connection between environmental factors and the prevalence of developmental disorders like autism. That is why Representative Saxton and I have formed the Children's Environmental Health Caucus, which will serve to educate members and staff here on the Hill about the latest scientific research into the impact of environmental factors on children's health. I hope my colleagues can join this caucus and work with us to further this type of research.

It is also critical that we provide the services needed to educate and care for those who do have autism. That is why I would like to call on the Congress to establish mandatory full funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It is time for the federal government to step up and fulfill its obligation on special education funding for the sake of children with special needs and for the sake of our constituents who often face high property taxes.

I would also like to commend the work of all of the nonprofit groups that do so much to provide for children with autism and their families. Groups like the New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (NJCOSAC) provide information, services, advocacy, and education. Others, like the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), support and fund research into science-based approaches for determining the causes, effective treatments, and potential cures for autism. NAAR, headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, was founded by two of my constituents, Karen and Eric London, whose son Zachary was diagnosed with autism when he was only twenty-two months old.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution and to remember those children with autism when it comes time to debate appropriations. Funding scientific and biomedical research is not just about giving jobs to scientists--it's about giving hope to people like Karen and Eric London and their son Zachary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 605. Frankly, I think there are probably many of us here who have personal testimonials. Everyone in Congress probably has friends who have a child who is autistic.

If one were to see Jacob Nolan Hirschfeld on the baseball diamond today, you might be impressed with his skills in playing our national pastime. Since his middle name was inspired by the great pitcher Nolan Ryan, you might also think his success on the field was destined. But Jacob's ability to play baseball and do everyday such things, such as attending school and playing with friends, was never guaranteed. Jacob Hirschfeld has been diagnosed with autism. He struggles with many of the issues common among the autistic. At 4 years of age, he could only speak in one syllable words. He was scared of loud noises and bright lights. He had many of the compulsions that are common with these children and was fearful of most people outside of his immediate family.

Jacob's father, Mark Hirschfeld, a friend of mine, has said ``our family was literally a prisoner to autism.'' Jacob's diagnosis was devastating to his parents, but even more difficult was the fact that physicians, educators, and other professionals had little understanding of this complex disorder and what could be done to help children like Jacob. Stereotypes abounded. One physician told the Hirschfeld's that Jacob had no better chance than 1 in 10 of living outside of an institution. Jacob's mother, Nancy, recalls that one preschool initially turned away her son because of their fears of autism, but once they began to see Jacob as a person who had unique gifts as well as challenges, they accepted him.

Thankfully, the Hirschfeld family persevered and sought services to help their son. Their search led them to engage in intensive, early intervention therapy called Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, which has helped them dramatically. Early intervention has also made a difference in the lives of Patrick and Jean McDermott, with their son, Grant, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 22 months old.

Grant's mother Jean said, ``It was devastating to hear the words `diagnosis of autism' as parents of this beautiful child. My husband and I wondered what his future would hold. After the initial shock, we started researching what we could do to give him a brighter future.'' The McDermott's also chose the ADA early intervention therapy. Therapists worked with Grant about 35 hours a week teaching him basic and then more advanced skills. He is now a regular in school with no aides, and will be going to kindergarten this fall. His future is looking bright and the McDermott's believe he will have a full life, but it will always be a challenge having an autistic son until a cure can be found.

Autism now affects 1 out of every 166 children in the United States. Boys are 4 times more likely to have autism than girls. This developmental disorder robs individuals of their ability to communicate and interact with others. These are just some of the reasons why it is so necessary we get the word out about autism and support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I congratulate the gentleman from Massachusetts for this very important resolution that, as has been pointed out, does several things. It recognizes the importance of increasing awareness of this affliction, autism. It supports programs for increased research and improved treatment of autism. It improves training and support for individuals with autism.

But one of the causes that I believe is one of the most important ones is that it recognizes and commends the parents and relatives of children with autism for their sacrifice and dedication in providing for the special needs of children with autism and for absorbing significant financial costs for specialized education and support services.

As has been pointed out before, each one of us could probably be here on the floor with a personal story about how we know someone who has autism, a family that has been affected by this disease, this affliction; and I am no exception to that. My best friends, Charles Flick and Patience Plumer Flick, have three children, two of whom have autism. Bonnie, a teenager, is able to communicate both verbally and in written form. She is able to do

simple arithmetic. She is probably in the higher level of high- functioning autism disorder. However, her young brother, Willis, is not able to communicate, is not aware of his surroundings, makes no connection to those around him in a very direct way, nor is he able to communicate in any way, shape or form except for grunts and pointing at simple pictures.

It has been a great experience for the family, a great challenge, to have them deal with the special needs of these two children. It presents a special challenge as well to their oldest child, Penny Flick, who is a graduating senior from high school this year.

Autism affects not just the children, those individuals with autism; it affects and it impacts the entire family. It has been a blessing, I believe, for the Flick family to have children with autism because it has made them more aware of God's many blessings upon them and makes them cherish life all the more. I think that this clause in this resolution of the gentleman from Massachusetts is very poignant because it recognizes and commends the parents and the relatives of children with autism because they deserve a very special place in our society and in our community. Caregivers of people with special needs so often do not go noticed and are not given the attention that they deserve. It takes a special heart and a special family to cope with the daily challenges that autism gives to the families.

I commend the gentleman from Massachusetts for this resolution, and I congratulate the Flick family and everyone involved with Bonnie and Willis for their great care.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 605 to recognize the importance of generating awareness about autism, increasing research efforts into this terrible disorder, and improving support for those who suffer from autism and those who help care for the autistic. My 13 year old nephew Jack has autism, so I am part of an extended family working to raise a child with this disability. My family's ongoing experience has impressed upon me how critical it is for us, as a society, to give those with autism and their families the support they need to fight this devastating disease, and to commit the resources necessary to determine the cause of autism and to develop a cure for the millions of afflicted individuals.

Autism is not rare. Autism effects approximately 1 in every 166 children in the United States, making it one of the most common childhood medical disorders. In many cases, those with autism will never marry, they will never live independently, and more than half of them will never learn to speak. Families affected by autism are forced to bear an extraordinary burden. Parents, siblings and friends have to learn to try to communicate with and care for a child who may be incapable of either verbal or nonverbal communication or who may exhibit erratic behavior. The fact that autism is so common is proof that autism research is deserving of our nation's wholehearted support.

Funding for autism research at the National Institutes of Health has been increased from approximately $93 million in Fiscal Year 2003 to $96 million in Fiscal Year 2004, but we know that is not enough. Scientists continue to disagree on the cause or causes for the dramatic increase in the number of autism cases diagnosed in the United States. Only with increased research will we be able to understand autism, find better treatments and effective prevention methods, and hopefully, someday soon, develop a cure for this terrible disease.

I am pleased to be here today as a cosponsor of H. Res. 605. I applaud Representative Tierney for authoring this Resolution and working to bring attention and resources to an all too common, but devastating disorder. At its peak, there were 20,000 cases of polio each year. Today, less than 10 Americans contract polio annually. By working together and by never giving up, I know we can make autism just as rare. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.