Washington, D.C. - Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 843, the Combating Autism Act of 2006.
As a long-time supporter and friend of the autism community, I am pleased that this bi-partisan legislation is before the full House today. Autism is a lifelong neurological disorder that usually strikes sometime within the first two years of a child’s life. It can cause severe impairment in language, cognition and communication. The statistics on autism are staggering. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every 166 children is affected by autism. Autism is one of the fastest-growing developmental disabilities in the United States.
There has been significant progress in recent years in increasing autism research dollars at the National Institutes of Health, as well as surveillance and public health funding at the CDC. Current research indicates that autism has a strong genetic component and may be triggered by environmental factors. But much more needs to be done. We need to redouble our effort to find a cure and improved intervention techniques. That is why I am proud to be a co-sponsor of the House version of the Combating Autism Act. The legislation before us today would authorize increased funding at the NIH for autism research programs as well as expand screening, intervention and education programs within the federal government.
It is important that we promote funding for autism research in order to identify the best methods of early intervention and treatment. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.