[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 254 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 254

  Honoring the Autism Society of America on the occasion of its 40th 
                              anniversary.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 27, 2005

Mr. Smith of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Burton of Indiana, 
 Mr. Weldon of Florida, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Crowley, 
 Mr. Wolf, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Reyes, Mr. 
   Moran of Virginia, Mr. Kind, Mr. Moore of Kansas, Mr. Peterson of 
 Minnesota, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. Kline, 
 and Mr. Putnam) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
          was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Honoring the Autism Society of America on the occasion of its 40th 
                              anniversary.

Whereas the Autism Society of America was founded in 1965 by Bernard Rimland, 
        Ph.D., who organized a group of parents to grow what was then known as 
        the National Society for Children and Adults with Autism;
Whereas the Autism Society of America became the first organization known in 
        America dedicated to providing education, advocating for legislation, 
        promoting research, and raising awareness about the then-rare disorder 
        of autism;
Whereas Bernard Rimland, Ph.D., the father of a son born with autism, through 
        his research and his 1964 publication ``Infantile Autism: The Syndrome 
        and Its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior'', disproved the 
        prevailing ``Refrigerator Mom'' theory that babies became autistic 
        because of extreme negative feelings or lack of feelings shown by 
        mothers in the first six months of life, and opened a path for 
        individuals with autism remaining in the home rather than being 
        warehoused in State-run institutions;
Whereas in 1968, Ruth Sullivan, Ph.D., the mother of a son with autism, became 
        the organization's first elected president;
Whereas over the last 40 years, the Autism Society of America has grown from a 
        handful of parents into a leading source of information, research, and 
        referral on autism with hundreds of thousands of members and supporters 
        connected through a working network of 200 chapters nationwide;
Whereas autism is a complex developmental disability that affects an individual 
        in the areas of social interaction and communication and, as a spectrum 
        disorder, affects each individual differently and to varying degrees of 
        severity;
Whereas autism spectrum disorders, considered in 1965 to be rare, have grown in 
        40 years from a prevalence of 1 in 10,000 to as many as 1 in 166 today;
Whereas four out of five individuals with autism are male;
Whereas as many as 1.5 million Americans of all ages are estimated to have 
        autism today;
Whereas in 1969, the Autism Society of America hosted the first national 
        conference on autism;
Whereas in 1970, the Autism Society of America established an information and 
        referral service;
Whereas in 1972, the Autism Society of America organized the first national 
        autism awareness campaign;
Whereas the Autism Society of America works in close cooperation with the 
        Congress and the Congressional Coalition on Autism Research and 
        Education (CARE), which was formed in 2001 to focus on advancing 
        solutions to the multifaceted problems of autism and includes 181 
        Members of Congress;
Whereas over the last 40 years, the Autism Society of America and its members 
        have been advocates for children with autism as the Congress considered 
        legislation affecting the lives of such children, including the 
        Handicapped Children's Early Education Assistance Act (1968) and the 
        Education for All Handicapped Act of 1975 (which would later become 
        known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)), the 
        Children's Health Act of 2000, and the Individuals with Disabilities 
        Education Improvement Act of 2004 (reauthorizing IDEA);
Whereas the Autism Society of America and its members have been instrumental in 
        advancing the cause of autism within the scientific research community 
        leading to a greater focus on autism research and a five-fold increase 
        in autism-related research funding between 1998 and 2004 at the National 
        Institutes of Health;
Whereas the Autism Society of America, through its national office and chapters, 
        remains a leading national autism organization providing direct support 
        and programs to the autism community and advocating on behalf of, and 
        supporting the needs of, the autism community across the life span;
Whereas for 40 years, the Autism Society of America has played an integral role 
        in furthering the Nation's understanding of autism and serves as a 
        leading voice and resource of the autism community in education, 
        advocacy, services, research, and support;
Whereas the Autism Society of America remains committed to meaningful 
        participation and self-determination in all aspects of life for 
        individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families;
Whereas the Autism Society of America continues to accomplish its mission and 
        goals through close collaboration with a successful network of chapters, 
        members, supporters, and organizations;
Whereas the Autism Society of America promotes individual, parental, and 
        guardian choice to assure that individuals with autism spectrum 
        disorders are treated with dignity and respect; and
Whereas the Autism Society of America continues to achieve its mission of 
        improving the lives of all affected by autism: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) honors the Autism Society of America on its 40-year 
        anniversary;
            (2) commends the Founders of the Autism Society of America 
        and the members, board, staff, and supporters, past and 
        present, of the Society for their service to the autism 
        community, to the Nation's understanding of autism, and to the 
        development and institution of research and services to address 
        the needs of those affected by autism spectrum disorders; and
            (3) expresses best wishes for continued success and growth 
        to the Autism Society of America, the largest and oldest of the 
        autism organizations.
                                 <all>