[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 53 (Friday, April 4, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 3, 2008

  Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, in December 2007, the United Nations 
General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring April 2 as the annual 
World Autism Awareness Day (WARD). Autism is only the third disorder to 
be recognized in this manner by the UN, showing the pervasive nature of 
autism and its ever-increasing effect on millions of people worldwide. 
As the Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Children's Health Care 
Caucus, I recognize the destructive force that is autism and I am proud 
to recognize Worldwide Autism Awareness Day in order to raise awareness 
of this life-altering and little known disorder.
  Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced 
that autism now afflicts one in every 150 American children and nearly 
one in 94 boys. These numbers are extremely disconcerting, especially 
when coupled with the fact that we know little about the root causes of 
autism.
  By raising public awareness of autism, hopefully more money will be 
allocated to research and develop cures and treatments. I am leading an 
effort to increase the funding for the National Institutes of Health 
(NIH). Increasing NIH funding offers the best hope we have to finding 
cures and treatments for diseases and disorders like autism. 
Collectively, we must commit every available resource to all research 
in order to enhance the quality of life for many, and it is my hope 
that raising awareness of this disorder will lead to new resources to 
combat it.
  More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with 
diabetes, cancer, and AIDS combined and autism is the fastest-growing 
serious developmental disability in the world. While currently there is 
no medical detection or cure for autism, early diagnosis and 
intervention shows much promise. With increased support for autism 
awareness, together we will offer hope in an area that desperately 
needs it. And finally Madam Speaker, I would encourage my colleagues to 
join us in this fight, to fund NIH medical research and bring hope to 
children and their families.

                          ____________________