[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 2, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2090-S2091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, one of the privileges of addressing the 
Senate each morning is the opportunity to call attention to what I 
believe and what I think the country believes are noble causes. I 
certainly hope so.
  Today is World Autism Awareness Day. To the Americans who have autism 
and the millions of family and friends affected by this condition, one 
day is simply not enough to focus on this misunderstood illness, but it 
helps--and we certainly hope it does.
  Autism is a general term for a group of complex disorders of brain 
developments affecting social interaction, communication, and behavior. 
According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control--in 
fact, the report came out this week--1 in 68 children is diagnosed with 
having some form of autism in our country. As more and more children 
are identified as being autistic, it is important we in Congress do all 
we can to provide them, their families, and their caretakers, the help 
that is so vitally necessary.
  Under the Affordable Care Act, autism screenings and other preventive 
services are available at no cost to families. For those diagnosed with 
autism, the days of being denied health insurance due to their 
preexisting condition ended with the passage and implementation of the 
Affordable Care Act.
  Today, because of the Affordable Care Act, adult children with autism 
may stay on their parents' policies through age 26, providing them with 
the stability and additional treatment they need.
  With benefits such as these, it is no wonder that more than 7 million 
people have sought health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. This 
doesn't count the estimated 800,000 to 900,000 people on 14 State 
exchanges. But in addition, everyone who tried to sign up during the 
last many months and were unable to get through, for whatever reason, 
are also now going to be signing up, which will add hundreds of 
thousands of more people.
  So the numbers are pretty clear. The estimate given by the White 
House many months ago, which my Republican colleagues made fun of, has 
now been exceeded. So maybe they will quiet down and stop talking about 
repealing this bill that affects millions and millions of people 
favorably.
  While the health care law is helping autistic Americans who have been 
diagnosed and their families, researchers at the National Institutes of 
Health are

[[Page S2091]]

tackling the question of why this disease is here, what are the origins 
of this condition.
  Research is critical in supporting development tools, interventions, 
and evidence-based services to help provide a quality of life for 
people in the autism spectrum.
  Over the last year, researchers funded by NIH have made significant 
advances in understanding the onset of autism. They have learned that 
brain changes that contribute to autism occur even during pregnancy and 
continue through the first years of life. They have also concluded that 
some of the possible signs of autism may begin to appear within the 
first 6 months it can be identified. The work at the NIH in 
understanding the problem cannot be understated, but far more needs to 
follow to better comprehend autism.
  Congress also has responsibilities. One is providing resources to the 
National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, and 
we need to do that. My friend Senator Durbin has introduced legislation 
that would focus on ways we can provide more help that is badly needed. 
With sequestration and the other cuts which have taken place it has 
been unfair to these two agencies.
  The Achieving Better Life Experience Act--also known as the ABLE 
Act--would improve the quality of life for individuals with autism and 
other disabilities through tax-advantaged savings accounts. These 
special savings accounts would help disabled Americans and their loved 
ones plan for the future by setting aside money to cover future 
expenses, including education, housing, therapy, and rehabilitation.
  I am a sponsor of the ABLE Act and proud to stand with all advocates 
in celebrating today World Autism Awareness Day.

                          ____________________