[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 43 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S2163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 481--DESIGNATING APRIL 2008 AS ``NATIONAL AUTISM 
   AWARENESS MONTH'' AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR 
    RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES AND TREATMENT OF AUTISM AND TO IMPROVE 
TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR 
                        INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM

  Mr. HAGEL (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Feingold, 
and Ms. Stabenow) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 481

       Whereas autism is a developmental disorder that is 
     typically diagnosed during the first 3 years of life, robbing 
     individuals of their ability to communicate and interact with 
     others;
       Whereas autism affects an estimated 1 in every 150 children 
     in the United States;
       Whereas autism is 4 times more likely to occur in boys than 
     in girls;
       Whereas autism can affect anyone, regardless of race, 
     ethnicity, or other factors;
       Whereas it costs approximately $80,000 per year to treat an 
     individual with autism in a medical center specializing in 
     developmental disabilities;
       Whereas the cost of special education programs for school-
     aged children with autism is often more than $30,000 per 
     individual per year;
       Whereas the cost nationally of caring for persons affected 
     by autism is estimated at upwards of $90,000,000,000 per 
     year;
       Whereas despite the fact that autism is one of the most 
     common developmental disorders, many professionals in the 
     medical and educational fields are still unaware of the best 
     methods to diagnose and treat the disorder; and
       Whereas designating April 2008 as ``National Autism 
     Awareness Month'' will increase public awareness of the need 
     to support individuals with autism and the family members and 
     medical professionals who care for individuals with autism: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 2008 as ``National Autism Awareness 
     Month'';
       (2) 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;
       (3) supports the goal of increasing Federal funding for 
     aggressive research to learn the root causes of autism, 
     identify the best methods of early intervention and 
     treatment, expand programs for individuals with autism across 
     their life spans, and promote understanding of the special 
     needs of people with autism;
       (4) stresses the need to begin early intervention services 
     soon after a child has been diagnosed with autism, noting 
     that early intervention strategies are the primary 
     therapeutic options for young people with autism, and that 
     early intervention significantly improves the outcome for 
     people with autism and can reduce the level of funding and 
     services needed to treat people with autism later in life;
       (5) supports the Federal Government's more than 30-year-old 
     commitment to provide States with 40 percent of the costs 
     needed to educate children with disabilities under part B of 
     the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
     1411 et seq.);
       (6) recognizes the shortage of appropriately trained 
     teachers who have the skills and support necessary to teach, 
     assist, and respond to special needs students, including 
     those with autism, in our school systems; and
       (7) recognizes the importance of worker training programs 
     that are tailored to the needs of developmentally disabled 
     persons, including those with autism, and notes that people 
     with autism can be, and are, productive members of the 
     workforce if they are given appropriate support, training, 
     and early intervention services.

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