[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 101 (Thursday, June 26, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1079-E1080]
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. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 24, 2014

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I offer my strong 
support for the Autism CARES Act of 2014, a bill that continues the 
much-needed research and educational activities related to autism. I 
strongly support our nation's autistic community; this bill helps to 
promote and facilitate the good work being done related to autism by 
federal entities, including the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Health Resources and 
Services Administration, and the Interagency Autism Coordinating 
Committee. Autism is a disorder that has a tremendous effect on the 
lives of the people with it and their families, including challenges 
with education, communication, and employment.
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies autism as 
one of our nation's leading public health crises. An autism-related 
diagnosis is more common today than the diagnosis of pediatric cancer, 
diabetes, and AIDS combined. More research on this complex 
neurobiological disorder is still needed because we do not fully 
understand the cause or course of this disorder.
  The Autism CARES Act of 2014 will facilitate autism research by 
reauthorizing $190 million annually through 2019. In addition, it 
focuses attention on the important issue of transitioning autistic 
youth from school to adulthood. I have heard from constituents with 
autism about the need to improve the transition of services to consider 
life after high school graduation to ensure that students are supported 
as they move to work or higher education. I am well aware of the 
benefits of services and research dedicated to autism. I am proud that 
Chicago is home to the Therapeutic School and Center for Autism 
Research run by the Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago. The Center 
provides care and advances research on autism. It provides multiple 
services--research, training, early intervention, school-to-work 
transition training, and independent living training--all under one 
roof. It is an amazing resource for Chicago, Illinois, and

[[Page E1080]]

the nation. I strongly support this program and any federal efforts to 
support and expand these services. Therefore, I strongly urge my 
colleagues to support the Autism CARES Act of 2014.

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