[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 25, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1067-E1068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTISM COLLABORATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT 
                              ACT OF 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. PHIL GINGREY

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 24, 2014

  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
4631--the Autism CARES Act of 2014. As a member of the Energy and 
Commerce Committee, I would like to commend the author of this 
legislation, Chris Smith of New Jersey, for his leadership on this 
issue. I would also like to commend Full Committee Chairman Fred Upton 
of Michigan and Health Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts from 
Pennsylvania for moving this important, bipartisan, bill through 
regular order.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout the consideration of H.R. 4631, I have been 
pleased to collaborate with Atlanta's Marcus Autism Center. Those of us 
from Georgia and leaders in the Congressional Autism Caucus are very 
familiar with the innovative treatment offered to children with autism 
at the Marcus Autism Center and the cutting-edge research its 
scientists are conducting there. I am proud to say the Marcus Autism 
Center--which is part of the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta system--
is one of three National Institutes of Health Autism Centers of 
Excellence.
  Furthermore, I have enjoyed working with the Center's leadership, 
particularly Executive Director Don Mueller, to make sure that H.R. 
4631--once implemented--will facilitate new breakthroughs in early 
diagnosis and intervention for children with autism. I have been 
impressed by the recent study authored by Marcus Autism Center 
researchers, Dr. Ami Klin and Dr. Warren Jones, which was published in 
Nature, a leading international scientific journal. This study showed 
that they detected signs of autism in the first two to six months of 
life using eye-tracking technology. This study opens a window for even 
earlier diagnosis and intervention in the future. By diagnosing and 
intervening earlier, we can reduce the most challenging disabilities 
related to autism and maximize the potential of children with autism.
  Mr. Speaker, today, the average age for diagnosing children with 
autism in the United States is around five years old. I have been 
informed by Marcus Autism Center officials that this study is the first 
step towards transformational future change and that if the medical 
profession can identify signs of autism in toddlers and then infants, 
we can capitalize on this window of opportunity to change the very 
course of autism.
  Therefore, as this reauthorization is being implemented, agencies 
must recognize the priority we place on facilitating improvements in 
early diagnosis and intervention of autism. I

[[Page E1068]]

made this very point during the Energy and Commerce Committee mark-up, 
and I am pleased that Chairman Upton was willing to include important 
language to this effect in the Committee Report to accompany H.R. 4631.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the continued advancements made at 
places like the Marcus Autism Center as we diagnosis and treat people 
with autism with the help of H.R. 4631. I urge all of my colleagues to 
support this legislation.

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