[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 113 (Thursday, July 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE NATIONAL DAY OF RECOGNITION FOR PARENTS OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN 
                               RESOLUTION

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                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2010

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a 
resolution in support of a national day of recognition for parents of 
special needs children. I am honored to have had the opportunity to 
work with my good friend Representative Turner from Ohio in sponsoring 
this resolution. I encourage all of my colleagues to support it.
  Children with special health care needs are defined as those children 
who have a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional 
condition that requires special health-related services of a type or 
amount to go above and beyond what is generally required for children. 
The Department of Health and Human Services' most recent National 
Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs estimates that 14 
percent of children between the ages of 0 and 17 in the United States 
are diagnosed as having special health care needs.
  As many in this Chamber already know, I am active in promoting autism 
awareness and advocating for more research; my only grandson is 
autistic and I have taken it upon myself to learn about autism and the 
challenges families face living with autism. Parents serve a critical 
role in the development of special needs children and in preparing them 
to succeed in school and life. All too often, children with special 
needs require specialized services that go well beyond those required 
by children generally. I believe the time has come to recognize the 
selfless dedication, compassion, and sacrifice of these parents.
  The resolution is simple. It calls for recognition of the importance 
of honoring the Nation's parents of special needs children; that a 
National Day of Recognition for Parents of Special Needs Children 
should be established to honor such parents; and urges the President to 
issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to 
observe such a day with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and 
activities.
  Again, I would like to encourage all of my colleagues to co-sponsor 
this critically important resolution.

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