[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6592-6599]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



         RECOGNIZING IMPORTANCE OF INCREASING AUTISM AWARENESS

  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 91) recognizing the importance 
of increasing awareness of the autism spectrum disorder, and supporting 
programs for greater research and improved treatment of autism and 
improved training and support for individuals with autism and those who 
care for them.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 91

       Whereas the Autism Society of America, Cure Autism Now, the 
     National Alliance for Autism Research, Unlocking Autism, and 
     numerous other organizations commemorate April 27 as Autism 
     Awareness Day and April as Autism Awareness Month;
       Whereas autism is a developmental disorder that is 
     typically diagnosed during the first three years of life;
       Whereas autism has robbed at least 400,000 Americans of 
     their ability to communicate and interact with others;
       Whereas autism affects at least 1 in every 500 children in 
     America;
       Whereas autism is 4 times more likely in boys than in 
     girls, and can affect anyone regardless of race, ethnicity, 
     or other factors;
       Whereas the cost of specialized treatment in a 
     developmental center for autistic persons is approximately 
     $80,000 per individual per year;
       Whereas the cost of special education programs for school-
     aged children with autism is often more than $30,000 per 
     individual per year;
       Whereas the cost nationally of caring for persons affected 
     by autism is estimated at more than $13 billion per year; and
       Whereas, despite the fact that autism is one of the most 
     common developmental disorders, many professionals in the 
     medical and educational fields are still unaware of the best 
     methods to diagnose and treat the disorder: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideas of Autism Awareness Day 
     and Month;
       (2) recognizes and commends the parents and relatives of 
     autistic children for their sacrifice and dedication in 
     providing for the special needs of their autistic children 
     and absorbing significant financial costs for specialized 
     education and support services;
       (3) supports the goal of increasing Federal funding for 
     aggressive research to learn the root causes of autism, 
     identify the best methods of early intervention and 
     treatment, and promote understanding of the special needs of 
     autistic persons;
       (4) urges the Department of Health and Human Services to 
     continue to press for the swift and full implementation of 
     the Children's Health Act of 2000, particularly the 
     establishment of not less than three ``Centers of 
     Excellence'' at the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention and not less than five ``Centers of Excellence'' 
     at the National Institutes of Health, in order to monitor the 
     prevalence of autism at a national level, leading to a better 
     understanding of autism and related disorders;
       (5) stresses the need to begin early intervention services 
     soon after a child has been diagnosed with autism, noting 
     that early intervention strategies, including Applied 
     Behavioral Analysis, are the primary therapeutic options for 
     young autistic persons;
       (6) supports the goal of federally funding 40 percent of 
     the costs of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 
     to States and local school districts, recognizing that the 
     inadequacy of this funding has adversely affected the ability 
     of school districts to appropriately respond to the rising 
     number of autism cases in our schools;
       (7) urges Federal, State, and local governments to allocate 
     sufficient resources to teacher training initiatives to 
     alleviate the shortage of appropriately trained teachers that 
     have the skills and support necessary to teach, assist, and 
     respond to the special needs of autistic students in our 
     school systems; and
       (8) recognizes the importance of worker training programs 
     that are tailored to the needs of developmentally disabled 
     persons, including those with autism, and notes that autistic 
     persons can be, and are, productive members of the workforce 
     if they are given appropriate support, training, and early 
     intervention services.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Doyle) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood).

                              {time}  1415


                             General Leave

  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H. Con. Res. 91, and include extraneous materials.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). Is there 
objection to the request of the gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Norwood).
  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this legislation 
for two very important reasons: One is a grandchild of Lurla and 
Richard Mane of Augusta, Georgia, who is an autistic child. The Manes 
are dear friends, and I have watched as they and their family have 
struggled with autism over the years.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my humble opinion that there are far too many 
American families suffering the effects of autism on a family member, 
with far too little being done to search out the cause of autism, or 
for effective treatments. It seems that no one really cares about 
autism until their child or a friend's child has autism.
  This disease affects nearly half a million Americans, yet there are 
no FDA-approved treatments. There are no clear diagnostic tests to even 
accurately determine when the disease exists. Properly directed Federal 
research aid holds the promise of correcting these deficiencies. We 
have failed to provide that direction in the past. Let us not fail 
again in this regard.
  Mr. Speaker, the second reason I support this bill is that it 
recognizes and calls for action on one of the most glaring injustices 
of this body; namely, our failure to live up to our word for disabled 
children.
  When we passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, known 
around here as IDEA, we ordered our local schools to provide disabled 
students, including those students suffering from autism, whatever they 
needed. In return, this body agreed to pay 40 percent of the cost of 
this Federal mandate, and it may come as little surprise to many of us, 
the Federal Government has not paid its share of the tab, but we have 
been sure to fully enforce our local school's obligation to pay theirs.
  This bill recognizes that fact and moves this Congress closer to 
honoring its word. It is time we provided every dollar of support for 
our autistic students in public schools to which we are obligated.
  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the cochairman of the Congressional Coalition for 
Autism Research and Education, it is my honor to speak in support of 
House Concurrent Resolution 91 which recognizes and commends parents 
and families of autistic children for their sacrifices and loving 
dedication to the demanding needs of caring for an autistic loved one.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize and thank the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel), my colleague on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 
for allowing me to manage the time; and I want to thank the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), cochairman of the Coalition for Autism 
Research and Education, for introducing this resolution and for his 
support of autism awareness legislation such as last year's ASSURE Act, 
which had the support of nearly 200 Members of Congress and is now 
public law.
  Autism is a family of closely related disorders commonly known as 
autism-spectrum disorders. No matter what particular disorder, autism 
is a devastating, lifelong impairment of childhood development that 
significantly impacts the lives of those affected, as well as the lives 
of parents and relatives. Autism deprives children of their ability to 
interact with others in ordinary ways. It robs them of the means to 
understand and communicate, and destroys normal reasoning skills. 
Autism forever changes the lives of individuals affected, and resonates

[[Page 6593]]

deeply throughout the social, economic and spiritual lives of all 
family members.
  Mr. Speaker, this disorder affects nearly 1.7 million Americans, with 
recent evidence pointing to a prevalence rate that one out of every 150 
to 170 children born has an autism-spectrum disorder. Autism does not 
discriminate. It affects all races and economic status with equal 
veracity. The disorder is more common than Down's syndrome, muscular 
dystrophy, cystic fibrosis and many forms of childhood cancer.
  The symptoms usually become apparent by the first 2 years of life, 
with nearly 75 percent of cases occurring in the second year as normal 
reasoning skills fail to develop. The other 25 percent of cases usually 
occur in the 12-to-24-month time period in which they regress and 
typical autism behavior emerges. It is the latter ``regressive autism'' 
cases that have been linked to the measles, mumps and rubella 
vaccination.
  Most disturbing is the fact that we simply don't know what causes 
autism and autism-spectrum disorders, nor do we know any cure for the 
disorder. But the number of those afflicted continues to grow. For 
those of us who have not experienced autism directly in our families, 
it may be difficult to truly comprehend just how demanding and 
stressful raising a child with autism can be on a family.
  Just last Friday, during the first coalition information briefing, I 
heard a description of autism that, as a father of four children, 
really hit home for me. Mr. Speaker, imagine that tonight while here in 
Washington, someone secretly entered my colleague's home and replaced 
my colleague's son or daughter with another child that looked exactly 
like their son or daughter, but did not speak or acknowledge when his 
or her name was called; who found parental affections painful and 
repulsive. Imagine, Mr. Speaker, if that child changed overnight and 
remained that way forever. This is autism, my friends.
  I have had a long-standing working relationship with autism advocacy 
leaders both here in Washington and in Pittsburgh. The impact of autism 
on families and individuals was first brought to my attention by Mr. 
Dan Torisky. Dan and I met in my early days in politics when I worked 
for a State senator, and from the first day I met Dan, I was impressed 
with his tireless and tenacious attitude towards finding a cure for 
autism. Dan was a past two-term national president of the Autism 
Society of America, and remains one of the most amazing advocates for 
autism that I have ever met.
  Dan knows autism on a very personal level. Dan's son, Eddie, is 
autistic; and like all families across America struggling with autism, 
from day one, Dan and his late wife, Connie, simply wanted their son to 
have as normal a life as possible. The Toriskys gave me my first 
comprehensive educational lesson on what it meant for a family to live 
with autism. I realized that the voices of local researchers, advocacy 
leaders, and parents needed to be heard by Congress so that they, too, 
could be educated about the needs for more advanced and dedicated 
research.
  Most importantly, I understand how frustrated parents of autistic 
individuals are when it comes to their legacy. Who will care for their 
autistic child when they are no longer here?
  Mr. Speaker, the cost associated with caring for and providing 
critical services to individuals with autism can be phenomenal. In my 
home State of Pennsylvania, the Autism Society of America estimates 
that we have 73,686 individuals with autism-spectrum disorders, which 
translates into about 0.6 percent of the total population. If you take 
into account early intervention, special education, transportation to 
special programs, respite care, housing and special programs for adults 
with autism, over the course of a year, it is estimated that autism 
costs Pennsylvania $50,000 per person.
  In my view, Mr. Speaker, Congress must confront the rising problem of 
autism on three fronts: cause, cure, and quality of life.
  We must continue Federal funding of advanced research into the 
suspected causes of the disorder, including efforts aimed at 
investigating the connection between late-onset autism and measles 
vaccinations, and identifying the genetic and biologic basis of 
susceptibility to autism.
  We must continue to fund research into the cures for the disorder 
that for the time being have helped us better identify and treat 
autism. Ongoing research has shown that the effects of autism can be 
mitigated if proper steps are taken to identify the disorder at the 
earliest age possible, and corresponding intervention programs are 
applied.
  We must also improve the quality of life for individuals with autism, 
while not turning our back on quality research into the causes and 
treatment. Autism lasts a lifetime, and often children with the 
disorder outlive parents. This creates a burden on the health care and 
social service systems nationwide, one that they are ill-prepared to 
carry. We need to care for and educate autistic children and adults, 
and provide properly trained staff and educators to meet the highly 
complex and specialized needs of these individuals. It is important 
that we take appropriate steps to reduce the disability associated with 
autism so that more individuals can work and live semi-independently.
  Mr. Speaker, it makes good sense to invest in research now, and 
passage of House Concurrent Resolution 91 is an important step because 
it presses for full implementation of the Children's Health Act of 
2000, now Public Law 106-310. Particularly important is the 
establishment of up to three additional Centers of Excellence in Autism 
at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and up to five more 
Centers of Excellence to complement the ongoing biomedical research of 
the existing 10 NIH Collaborative Programs in Excellence in Autism.
  It is vital that we in Congress fund research programs without taking 
away much-needed funding to pay for new programs. I believe that any 
expansion of research programs must come with a corresponding expansion 
of funding dollars.
  Mr. Speaker, we have a responsibility to help families dealing with 
autism. We must do our share because autism is not terminal, and 1.7 
million families are a growing and strong testament that life not only 
goes on, but it can flourish, given strong support and an advocacy 
network.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the cofounder of the Autism Coalition and 
a leader in helping to solve the problems of children with this malady.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman 
for yielding me this time, and thank him on behalf of his good work for 
autistic children.
  Mr. Speaker, I also thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Doyle), the cochairman of the Coalition for Autism Research and 
Education (C.A.R.E.). It is a privilege to work with him, and I thank 
the gentleman for his work and the work his staff has been doing.
  Mr. Speaker, we have 119 members on the Coalition for Autism Research 
and Education, CARE, and I hope my colleagues who might be watching in 
their offices and their staffs would look into joining this coalition. 
We are trying to mobilize Congress in a bipartisan way on behalf of 
autistic children and adults and their families, who are in great need 
of our support.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin) and 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and the majority leader for 
releasing this resolution to the floor. It was referred to their 
respective committees, the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce. The majority leader and the 
committee chairman worked together to get the resolution to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) 
for his work on behalf of this, and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Burton), who held a very important hearing on

[[Page 6594]]

the issue of autism, trying to get to the core reasons as to what is 
causing it.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), who 
was the prime sponsor of the Children's Health Act which contained 
title I which sets up the Centers of Excellence. Many of us worked on 
that language, and we were very pleased when the gentleman made that 
title I of his very important health care initiative.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 91 calls attention to one of the major 
public health issues of our time, the developmental disorder called 
autism. Last Friday (April 27), as Members probably know, parents and 
families of autistic children from all over the country came down to 
Washington to mark the second annual Autism Awareness Day and to raise 
awareness of the challenges and sacrifices families make on behalf of 
their loved ones. H. Con. Res. 91 calls attention to autism and tries 
to dedicate this Congress, this body, this House, to supporting efforts 
to treat and to eventually cure autism. In the meantime, we need to at 
least mitigate its occurrence.
  Mr. Speaker, it is not an exaggeration to say that autism spectrum 
disorders may be the silent epidemic of our time. It is silent because 
this developmental disorder has robbed at least 400,000 children of 
their ability to communicate and interact with their families and their 
loved ones. It is silent because there are currently no operational 
autism registries in the Nation to tell us how many people are actually 
afflicted with this disorder. Conventional wisdom and passive reporting 
suggests that autism affects at least one in every 500 children in 
America. Much of the recent anecdotal evidence, however, suggests that 
autism rates are significantly higher, some say closer to one in every 
250 children. We have got to get to the bottom of the numbers but more 
importantly the why of it. Why is this exploding on our scene in 
America today? What is the cause? What is the pathway? Is it 
environmental? Is it an immunization shot? Nobody really knows. There 
are a lot of theories, but not much when it comes to getting to the 
bottom of the why of it.
  Mr. Speaker, let me just say to my colleagues, I was brought into 
this 21 years ago by a Dr. Holmes who runs the Eaton Institute in 
Princeton, a very, very important, dedicated person who has done so 
much, has literally written books and books on the issue of autism. But 
more recently it was a family, Bobbi and Billy Gallagher in Brick Town, 
New Jersey who came to me and said, ``We think we have an elevated 
number of autistic cases in Brick Township, New Jersey.'' They brought 
evidence. They had done their own survey, finding that there may be as 
many as 4 per 1,000 rather than the estimates of 2 per 1,000 in that 
municipality. We then invited the CDC and ATSDR in and they did an 
empirical, very scientific study.
  The bottom line is that they brought forth information that suggested 
an elevated incidence of prevalence that exceeded what was supposedly 
the norm. CDC and ATSDR found, about 4 per 1,000 children had autism, 
and in the spectrum, 6.7 per 1,000 children this was much higher than 
what we anticipated. This study may indicate that there is a cluster of 
children with autism in Brick Township, but this study may portend a 
much higher incidence occurring throughout the country.
  We need to spend more money on this. This resolution at least puts us 
on record as saying it is important to us, we want to get to the bottom 
of it, and we want to see implementation of title I of the Children's 
Health Act.
  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Matheson).
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak today as a member of 
the Congressional Autism Caucus and to voice my support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 91. The challenges of autism have been brought to 
my attention by parents and families whose lives have been affected by 
autism. Often these parents suffer as the young children do not speak, 
do not make eye contact and withdraw from them socially. This 
legislation provides a call for increased awareness of autism. It 
commends the courage of parents, recommends early intervention, and 
encourages training and support for parents, teachers, and 
professionals who work with autistic children. While once children with 
autism may have been institutionalized, now early interventions can 
unlock the worlds of these children.
  In my home State of Utah, one of the greatest challenges in expanding 
services to children with autism is a lack of adequate resources. Many 
children are denied services due to a lack of space. These are the 
services which have helped other children learn to interact with family 
and to combat the debilitating effects of autism. Currently in Utah, 
there is a call to establish an Autism Center for Excellence, a new 
school with the space, the trained personnel, the teachers, the social 
workers, and the researchers all engaged in helping these children and 
families escape their isolation and integrate into society.
  The Carmen B. Pingree School will be the first systemic program in 
the Nation to help children with autism develop from preschool through 
the elementary grades. It will provide these early services, and it 
will engage in progressive research. It is my hope that this 
legislation will provide some of the needed impetus for the recognition 
of autism. Hopefully it will be the beginning of many efforts across 
the Nation to create centers of excellence like the Carmen B. Pingree 
School to bring crucial services into the lives of children with 
autism.
  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Burton), the chairman of the Committee on Government 
Reform.
  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Burton).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). The gentleman 
from Indiana is recognized for 4 minutes.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood) for yielding me this time. I would like to 
congratulate the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle) for cochairing the Autism 
Caucus.
  I did not know much about autism, except it was a disease of some 
kind that afflicted a lot of kids and some adults until it happened to 
my grandson. One day he was normal, starting to talk, walking, great 
kid. He got nine shots in one day. Nine shots in one day. Many of the 
shots he received had mercury in them. Most people do not know that 
when their kids are vaccinated, many of the shots they get have 
thimerosal in them. It is mercury and mercury is a toxic substance that 
hurts people, especially children, and it builds up in your system as 
you get more and more of it.
  Anyhow, within just a couple of days after getting nine shots in one 
day, the MMR shot which has been referred to by the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle) and many shots including mercury, he started 
flapping his arms, running around banging his head against the wall, he 
had obstructions in his bowel, he had chronic diarrhea, he walked 
around on his toes, and he has not been normal since.
  The interesting thing about this is that I found out after seeing 
this in my grandson, that not too long ago one in 10,000 children in 
this country were autistic. One in 10,000. Now it is between 1 in 250 
and 1 in 500. The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) just said we 
have an epidemic on our hands. We really do have an epidemic. In the 
life span of a child who is autistic, the cost is going to hit this 
economy to the tune of about $5 million each. Each. And if 1 in every 
250 to 500 children are autistic, we better darn well pretty soon find 
out the cause. Our health agencies really are not doing much. They are 
appropriating very, very little money in research into autism.
  We have a growing body of scientists and doctors who have testified 
before my committee and the Congress that are saying that mercury is a 
contributing factor to autism and Alzheimer's.

[[Page 6595]]

We have a growing number of people who have Alzheimer's in this 
country. They are getting shots with mercury in them. I got a 
vaccination here by the doctor at the Capitol and I found out, he did 
not know it, he is a great doctor, a fine fellow, but he did not know 
there was mercury in the vaccine. How many of my colleagues got 
vaccines this year to protect themselves against the flu, flu vaccine? 
If you got one, you got mercury in your vaccination. That is a 
contributing factor according to a lot of scientists and doctors to 
Alzheimer's and to autism in kids. We need to find out why they are 
putting mercury in vaccines. It does not have to be in there. We have a 
supply of vaccines that will take care of our children across this 
country that does not contain mercury. Yet if you have three shots in 
one vial, they put mercury in as a preservative. The mercury is very 
toxic and may be, and we believe it is, a contributing factor to 
autism.
  All I can say is that the FDA and HHS and all of our health agencies 
need to get on the stick and get things like mercury and aluminum and 
formaldehyde out of the shots we are giving our children and out of the 
shots we are giving adults. I just want to tell Members that every 
parent, every grandparent in this country ought to be concerned about 
what is going into their children's bodies. Not too long ago the FDA 
took any topical dressing you put on your skin, they took mercury out 
of them because it would leach into the skin and could cause a problem. 
Yet they still give shots to our children that contain mercury today. 
As we speak, children are getting mercury injected into their bodies 
with vaccines.
  That is wrong. It should not happen. It should not happen. That is 
why we in the Congress ought to know everything we can about what is 
going into our children. Our children get 26 shots by the time they go 
to school. Many contain these toxic substances. It should not happen. I 
personally believe that is what caused my grandson's autism, and I 
believe parents across the country feel the same way. I do not know how 
many hundreds of parents I have talked to, thousands of parents I have 
talked to who had the same experience that we had in our family; and it 
is something that should not happen.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle) and the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for what they are doing. I want 
to thank the 113 members that have joined the caucus, and I hope all 
435 Members join the caucus and put every bit of pressure we can as 
well as resources into the health agencies to solve this problem.
  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
my home State of Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart).
  Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Greenwood) for yielding time. I also rise in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 91. I think there are some bright spots in 
dealing with the issue of autism. Some of them are due to the fact that 
this Autism Caucus was created 7 years ago.
  There has been a great increase in public education and information 
on the disorder. Parents have become much more active and involved in 
helping us to get the word out. The caucus has been designed to show 
that autism is a major children's health issue. People are beginning to 
understand how important it is.
  Based on the dedicated work of the caucus, there have been 10 
research programs funded throughout the country in addition to five 
comprehensive autism centers providing clinical and educational 
outreach as well as extensive research. One of the best programs is the 
University of Pittsburgh-Carnegie Mellon Collaborative Program of 
Excellence in Autism, or CPEA. It works in conjunction with the 
University of Pittsburgh Center for Autism Research. These researchers 
are going to be part of the key to solving the problems of autism.
  But aside from the research, it is awareness and community awareness. 
I want to give special recognition to Renee Georgi, a constituent in my 
old Senate district who has a son with autism. They discovered very 
early that her son had autism and because of some of the research and 
some of the developments in educating young people with autism, her son 
will be able to be mainstreamed into his elementary school next year. 
But that is not the complete solution. We do need to find out the 
causes of autism. We do need to find a cure. It is with dedicated 
Members of Congress like those here today that we will be able to work 
together with researchers and parents to make sure that we find that 
cure and eliminate autism.
  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for 
introducing this resolution. I want to thank him and I want to thank 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle) for cochairing the 
Congressional Autism Caucus. I am proud to be a member, also.
  Also, I want to point out that the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Burton) who chairs the Committee on Government Reform on which I serve 
has really been exploring through committee hearings the dramatic rise 
in autism rates and what we can do about it. What was once considered a 
rare disease affecting one in 10,000 children now, as we have heard 
now, is estimated to affect one in 500 children, some say one in 250, 
in the United States.
  Over 500,000 people in the United States today have some form of 
autism. The estimated prevalence rate of autism now places it as the 
third most common developmental disability, more commonly occurring 
than Down's syndrome. Unfortunately we found through these hearings 
that there is almost no existing data on causes or links to causes of 
autism in children.
  We found that there is a real need to fully understand the actual 
incidence of autism and autism spectrum disorders. For example, we need 
to better understand what if any is the link between vaccines and 
acquired or late onset autism. I have no doubt of the need for more 
autism research that will lead to better treatment options and cures 
and the need for more practice-based research to evaluate current 
treatment options.
  Autism or autism spectrum disorder is not only simply a learning 
disability or developmental delay, it is a medical condition, a 
neurobiological disorder. The Autism Society of America defines autism 
as a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the 
first 3 years of life. Children and adults with autism typically have 
difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, social interactions 
and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it hard for them to 
communicate with others and relate to the outside world.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to know why autism is four times more prevalent 
in boys than girls, when in fact autism knows no racial, ethnic or 
social boundaries, and it appears that family income, life-style and 
educational levels do not affect the occurrence of autism.

                              {time}  1445

  Mr. Speaker, in this county we look forward to the future. We plan 
for the future. We look at our children as the future. With the 
children's future in mind, I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation and make sure that that ribbon which has the puzzle pieces 
in it has those puzzle pieces come together with research.
  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. GREENWOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks, and include extraneous material.)
  Mr. GREENWOOD. Mr. Speaker, the other speakers, my colleagues, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle), the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Smith), the cofounders of the coalition, have outlined the agonies 
that parents go through when they find that their children suffer from 
autism.

[[Page 6596]]

It is just that those precious moments in the upbringing of a child, as 
the child begins to communicate, there is a glimmer of recognition of 
the child, of his siblings, of the world around him or her, and the joy 
of beginning to sing with their children and to teach them their ABCs 
and to read to them and to laugh with them. It is just at that time in 
the development of a child that this terrifying phenomenon occurs, and 
that is closing down where suddenly the child begins to just turn away 
and fall away from the grasps of the parents, not beyond their love but 
certainly beyond their ability to communicate. It is a heartbreaking 
event.
  The parents in my district and in my colleagues' districts around the 
country, many of them decided to turn their anguish into action. They 
decided that the thing to do was to see if this process that we are 
engaged in here in Washington actually works. They came to Washington 
and they said, we need legislation to try to cure this disease, to find 
out what causes it, to find out how to treat it, to find out how to 
diagnosis it, to teach doctors how to recognize this disease. They came 
and we introduced legislation in the last session and the session 
before that. It took a lot of perseverance on the part of these parents 
and these families coming to Washington over and over again, through 
all of our press conferences, coming to their Members from around the 
country to persuade them to join forces with us; but they succeeded.
  For a while it was a little bit frightening because the autism bill 
became a children's health act as one disease after another was added 
to the legislation. There was some fear that maybe this thing was 
growing so big that it would be too expensive and too hard to pass; but 
as it turned out, it created momentum to parents of children with all 
kinds of conditions who helped to pass this legislation; and we passed 
it and it was a wonderful, magnificent example of how our political 
process can actually work in this country.
  The problem was, or the problem became, that now we had to go to the 
next stage, and that is the implementation. This bill calls for the 
creation of five Centers of Excellence geographically distributed 
throughout the country where parents can take their children, when they 
suspect there might be a problem of this kind, for diagnosis; where 
they can get them involved in the latest clinical trials; where there 
are the best researchers, the best doctors, the best experts in the 
country all located to get to the bottom of this disease, and to 
provide real hope for the parents that their children can progress and 
hopefully some day be cured of this.
  It turned out it was going to take years, literally years, to get 
these Centers of Excellence up and running, and that is not what 
Congress intended, and that was unacceptable.
  Just last week during the rally, some parents and I, upset about all 
of this, called into my office from the Department of Health and Human 
Services the National Institutes of Health Acting Director Ruth 
Kirschstein, and we said that it was unacceptable that these Centers of 
Excellence would be postponed a couple of years. I am pleased to report 
today that we made magnificent progress in that meeting, and I take my 
hat off to Dr. Kirschstein for the commitment that she made that day. 
The commitment that she made is that just 6 weeks from now, by mid-
June, June 15 to be precise, the National Institutes of Health will put 
out the request for applications for the Centers of Excellence. By the 
end of the year, all of those applications will be in and by next year 
we will be prepared to the tune of $12 million, which is their 
commitment to fund these Centers of Excellence.
  So finally this process that these parents have been so engaged in 
and so many of my colleagues have been so committed to will actually 
come to fruition, and around the country hopefully we will be able to 
stand with these parents and their children and cut the ribbons to 
these centers and have the children walk in and meet their new doctors 
and their new therapists so that in future years we will be able to 
report to our colleagues in the House and to the rest of the country 
that this has worked; that not only did we get a bill passed, but we 
got it implemented and we got the money spent and we got the experts 
working side by side with the parents on behalf of these children and, 
in fact, we can hopefully see the day where these children will begin 
to come out of these mental prisons in which they have been held 
captive so cruelly for so many years.
  Will that day not be a day for great celebration?

         Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health 
           Service, National Institutes of Health,
                                        Bethesda, MD, May 1, 2001.
     Hon. James Greenwood,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Greenwood: Thank you for the opportunity to 
     discuss implementation of the autism title of the Children's 
     Health Act of 2000 with you, members of your staff, and 
     representatives of Cure Autism Now in your office last 
     Friday. I commend you for your legislative leadership and 
     your personal commitment to focusing federal resources on 
     research that will lead to a better understanding of this 
     terrible illness and eventually better treatment for those 
     who bear its burden. I also want you to know that all of us 
     at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) share your 
     commitment.
       I particularly appreciated your patience and objectivity in 
     listening to NIH's plans for meeting the goals of the Act. As 
     my colleagues and I explained, investigators performing 
     autism research represent a relatively small field of 
     science. We believe the field needs to be broadly developed 
     and also invigorated by new researchers with expertise that 
     may expedite and enhance scientific discoveries. At the same 
     time, NIH wants to facilitate the work of outstanding 
     researchers currently in the field by providing additional 
     resources to them, including the establishment of the Centers 
     of Excellence described in the Act.
       Toward carrying out the Act's provisions, NIH is in the 
     process of implementing a multi-stage approach to autism 
     research. An important part of our approach is the 
     solicitation, through a recent Request for Applications 
     (RFA), for investigators interested in receiving NIH support 
     to develop research excellence in autism. Separately, NIH 
     will also accept applications from current investigators who 
     believe they have sufficient expertise to coordinate and 
     manage Centers of Excellence, as authorized by the Act. NIH 
     will clarify in a public notice issued within the next ten 
     days that applications will be accepted for this latter 
     endeavor; we intend to issue a separate RFA for Centers of 
     Excellence by June 15, 2001. Of course, applications for both 
     development grants and Centers of Excellence grants must 
     undergo and pass NIH's peer review process.
       In addition, I assure you that NIH will strive to fully 
     fund the Centers of Excellence within the parameters of the 
     Act.
       I will keep you informed as we proceed. My colleagues and I 
     will answer any additional questions you might have in the 
     future regarding implementation of the Act, as well as any 
     other queries regarding the state of autism research in 
     general. Again, thank you for inviting us to discuss this 
     matter. Please let me know if I can be of additional 
     assistance.
           Sincerely,
                                        Ruth L. Kirschstein, M.D.,
                                                  Acting Director.

  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing I just want to thank my friend and colleague, 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Greenwood), who has really been 
one of the leaders in this Congress for the cause of autism, and my 
good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith). I think we all 
feel the same way. We do not want to take five steps forward and go 10 
steps backward. We want to make sure that we fund and continue to fund 
the 10 existing centers as we put the five new ones online.
  This comes down to a matter of funding. We are blessed this year to 
be looking at surpluses in this budget. Surely, we want to make sure we 
are not robbing from Peter to pay Paul and that as we put these new 
centers online that we find the funding to do that, without taking any 
funding away from the research that needs to take place at the existing 
centers.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope we have a strong showing of votes in favor of 
this resolution for the 1.7 million individuals living with this 
disorder, of which 400,000 are children.
  In closing, I urge passage of House Concurrent Resolution 91, 
encourage my colleagues who have not yet joined the Coalition for 
Autism Research and Education Caucus to please do so.

[[Page 6597]]


  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 91. Over 
the past few years there has been increasing interest in autism. How 
prevalent is it? What causes it? How do you treat it? Can we prevent 
it? During Congressional hearings, we have heard heart-wrenching 
stories from parents about the shock of hearing the diagnosis of 
autism, about the battles to find appropriate schooling, and about the 
desperate search for treatments and cures. One father told us that he 
has to drive 12 hours every month to take his son to treatment. The 
testimony of these parents have provided us with crucial information 
necessary for a better understanding of the impacts of this disease and 
what our research priorities should be.
  We have also heard the testimony of some clinicians who are reporting 
increasing diagnoses of autistic children in their clinics. CDC 
researchers have told us that they do not have good data on the number 
of cases of autism, whether the number is going up and, if it is, by 
how much. It is important to determine how pervasive this disease is 
and whether the rates are, in fact, increasing. Many researchers have 
suggested that environmental factors may contribute to autism. 
Understanding if there is an increase in incidence and when that 
increase began may give us some clues to what environmental factors 
could be to blame.
  Researchers have also testified at our hearings that much about the 
causes of autism remains unknown and that treatment options are 
limited. And we know that there is no known cure for this disease.
  We have heard some positive things as well. Recently, several genes 
associated with autism have been identified. Last week, researchers 
from NIH, the March of Dimes, and the MIND Institute at the University 
of California, Davis, announced that they may have found a biological 
marker for autism that would allow for the identification of autism 
earlier in life, before the onset of symptoms. This could lead to 
better diagnoses of autism, earlier interventions, which are critical 
for a more successful outcome, and perhaps the discovery of therapies 
for the disorders.
  Despite these recent advances, answers are not coming quickly enough 
for the parents of autistic children who live with these conditions 
every day, many of whom have tried every available treatment and 
intervention and who are running out of options. It is our obligation 
to these parents and to their children that we do everything we can to 
ensure that the best possible research is conducted quickly and 
thoroughly by appropriating the money authorized under the Children's 
Health Act and through other authorities of the NIH. In the meantime, 
while we wait for answers, we need to help parents of these children 
get the free and appropriate education to which their children are 
entitled by fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
Act.
  Many questions about autism remain unanswered. What we do know, 
however, is that we are not yet doing enough to help these children. I 
hope that the current attention being given to this devastating disease 
reflects a renewed commitment on the part of Congress and can bring new 
hope to families living with autism.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. 
Res. 91, a resolution recognizing the importance of increasing 
awareness of autism spectrum disorders, and supporting programs for 
greater research and improved treatment of autism and improved training 
and support for individuals with autism and those who care for them. I 
commend my colleague from New Jersey, Mr. Smith, for introducing this 
resolution.
  We owe a debt of gratitude to national organizations such as the 
Autism Society of America, Cure Autism Now, Unlocking Autism, and 
others that have done a tremendous job with limited resources in their 
efforts to help parents and relatives of individuals with autism 
disorders. These groups have long been involved in research as well as 
in the development of improved treatments for autism. Their local 
affiliates, like the Southwest Chapter of the Autism Society in El 
Paso, are a beacon of hope for many families that have few places to 
turn to for help. I personally want to thank the Southwest Chapter in 
my district for providing help and networking for local families that 
are often overwhelmed by dealing with autism disorders.
  It is time for Congress to step up to the plate and provide more 
tools for these families, and to provide the necessary resources for 
education and increased research. H. Con. Res. 91 is about helping 
families. For those of you who have a member of the family with autism, 
and for those of you assisting these families, this resolution is a 
signal that we in Congress understand the need to tackle autism 
disorders head on and work together to find better ways to treat 
autism, to expand federal research, to improve access to a community-
based education and support services, and ultimately, to find a cure.
  Mr. Speaker, I once again want to thank Congressman Smith for 
introducing this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote in 
support of this important effort.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 91, which recognizes the importance of increasing 
awareness of the autism spectrum disorder, and in support of programs 
for greater research and improved treatment and training.
  Autism is a development disorder that is typically diagnosed within 
the first three years of life. It does not discriminate based on family 
income, lifestyle or educational level. Its cause is essentially 
unknown. Its prevalence rate makes autism one of the most common 
developmental disabilities.
  As a result of autism, an estimated 400,000 Americans have lost the 
ability to communicate and interact with others, although many states 
do not track the numbers. The cost of caring for people afflicted with 
autism is estimated to be more than $13 billion per year.
  I firmly support the goals and ideas of Autism Awareness Day and 
Month. A generation ago, most people with autism were housed in 
institutions. With the appropriate support most families are able to 
take care of their autistic child at home. Others move into group 
homes, assisted living or residential facilities.
  I recognize and commend the parents of autistic children for the 
sacrifices and dedication they show in providing for the special needs 
of their autistic children and absorbing the significant financial 
costs for specialized education and support services. Special education 
costs for a child with ASD are over $8,000 per year, with some 
specially structured programs costing about $30,000 per year, and care 
in a residential school costs $80,000-$100,000 per year.
  I support increased federal funding for research to learn the causes 
of autism, identify the best methods of early intervention and 
treatment, and promote understanding of the special needs of autistic 
persons. I also support the goal of federally funding 40 percent of the 
costs of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to 
states and local school districts, because the funding inadequacy has 
adversely affected the ability of school districts to serve the rising 
number of autism cases. Nationally, in 1989-99, the last year for which 
data is available, IDEA served only about 35,000 students, 4300 in 
Texas. This is only a portion of those who need such services.
  I urge swift implementation of the Children's Health Act of 2000, 
particularly the establishment of at least three ``centers of 
excellence'' at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and at 
least five centers at the National Institutes of Health, in order to 
monitor the prevalence of autism at the national level. Furthermore, 
although there is no medical cure for autism, it is crucial that we 
provide early intervention services soon after a child has been 
diagnosed with autism. Such services result in dramatically positive 
outcomes for young children with autism, helping many to eventually 
live and work independently in the community and become productive 
citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, together we can make a difference.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 91, 
which recognizes the importance of increasing our nation's awareness of 
the autism spectrum disorder, and supporting programs for greater 
research and improved treatment of autism and improved training and 
support for individuals with autism and those who care for them.
  Autism impacts our society in a myriad of ways. By supporting funding 
for research and increasing education and awareness, we can begin to 
effectively fight this devastating disease. It is important to 
understand how autism is defined, why the autism rate is increasing at 
an alarming rate, and how we can support effective research that will 
benefit those who are affected by autism.
  Autism is a disease that affects an individual's ability to 
communicate and interact with people and their environment. While 
autism may not have been a common disease during my childhood, the 
Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that autism rates 
have increased from affecting 1 in 10,000 children to its current rate 
of 1 in 500 children. If autism is not affected by race, ethnicity, 
socio-economic, and educational factors, then what does affect the 
increasing rate of autism? Only continued research can begin to fully 
answer this question.
  Autism is a disease that paralyzes communication, and we cannot 
afford to paralyze our own communication between the medical

[[Page 6598]]

community, the government sector, and those affected by autism. 
Accordingly, the Committee on Government Reform has recently held a 
number of hearings that have determined that there is a lack of support 
for biomedical research into the causes, prevention, and effective 
treatments of autism. This research is essential to our ability to help 
those who are affected by this disease. These hearings have also 
discovered that there may be a significant link between certain 
childhood vaccines and autism. It is still much too early to draw any 
concrete conclusions about this relationship, but I am confident that 
by working with the FDA, NIH and the CDC, we can begin to learn more 
about autism.
  It is gratifying that our colleagues, the gentleman from New Jersey, 
Mr. Smith and the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Doyle are co-
chairing the Congressional Caucus on Autism. This caucus will have to 
build support for essential autism research. Accordingly, I urge my 
colleagues to support this important resolution.
  Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be here in support of H. 
Con. Res. 91, following the 2nd Annual Autism Awareness Day. This 
resolution calls attention to one of the major public health issues of 
our time--the developmental disorder called autism.
  Autism has affected the lives of an estimated 400,000 children--one 
in five hundred--and altered their ability to interact and communicate 
with family and loved ones. Despite the tremendous impact on families, 
we still lack adequate information on this condition. In fact, we have 
no scientific records to indicate exactly how many children have 
autism, or the degree to which they are affected. Information on the 
cause and treatment of autism is also severely limited. Despite the 
fact that autism is one of the most common developmental disorders, 
many professionals in the medical and education fields are still 
unaware of the disorder.
  Awareness is the key to this important issue. Specialists do know 
that early intervention services can dramatically improve a child's 
long-term prospects, if autism is detected at an early age. In many 
cases, early intervention can determine if a child is able to speak. 
While the cost of educating a child with autism is expensive, no price 
tag can be placed on a child's future.
  H. Con. Res. 91 is a step in the right direction because it supports 
greater research and improved treatment of autism. In addition, this 
legislation appropriately asks for improved training and support for 
individuals with autism and those who care for them.
  As a member of the Autism Caucus, I applaud Chairman Chris Smith's 
leadership on this important issue. My fellow New Jersey colleague has 
displayed hard work and dedication as the Chair of the Autism Caucus 
and he is the reason that this legislation is before us today. I urge 
you to join our efforts in support of legislation that will 
significantly improve the lives of thousands of children.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. 
Res. 91. Autism, a brain disorder that affects 1 to 2 in every 1,000 
Americans, too often results in a lifetime of impaired thinking, 
feeling, and social functioning. This disability has no racial, ethnic, 
or social boundary and usually appears in the first three years of a 
child's life.
  In Fairview Heights, Illinois, the Illinois Center for Autism was 
established in 1977 to provide a Special Day School program. At the 
time, it was serving eight children with autism. Today, the Illinois 
Center for Autism has helped prevent the institutionalization of 
hundreds of people with autism and has assisted them to become 
productive members of society. I commend the center for its continuing 
commitment to autism and dedication to service.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important to support the goals and ideas of Autism 
Awareness Day and Month and support the goal of increasing federal 
funding for aggressive research on autism. I recognize the parents and 
relatives of autistic children and hope this legislation gives them 
optimism for their children. The Illinois Center for Autism in my 
district is one example of true achievement, and I commend the center 
for its continuing commitment to autism and dedication to service. For 
these reasons, I support this legislation.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor, I would like 
to express my strong support for H. Con. Res. 91, and I commend my 
colleague and author of this legislation, Christopher Smith, for 
addressing the importance in promoting an increased awareness of autism 
spectrum disease disorders.
  Autism is a brain disorder that impacts an individual's ability to 
respond appropriately to an environment and to form relationships. It 
affects at least 1 in every 500 children in America, and some studies 
suggest even 1 in 200. The number of children who are diagnosed with 
autism has escalated dramatically and, in Florida, approximately 50 
percent of children suffering from autism reside in my community of 
South Florida.
  My good friends, Charles and Patience Flick, have two children, 
Bonnie and Willis, who have autism. This development disorder has 
robbed Bonnie and Willis of their ability to communicate and interact 
with their family members and playmates. Fortunately, Bonnie and Willis 
are able to afford the little treatment and intervention that exists, 
but many families living with this disorder are not as fortunate.
  As a Member of the House Autism Caucus, and as a strong supporter of 
H. Con. Res. 91, I am committed to raise awareness on autism, to work 
toward an increase of $6 million for the National Institutes of Health, 
and an additional increase of $5 million for the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
  I support the goals and ideas of Autism Awareness Day and Month, 
which are: to begin early intervention services for children with 
autism, federally fund 40 percent of the costs of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act to States and local school districts, and 
recognize the importance of worker training programs that are tailored 
to the needs of developmentally disabled persons, including those with 
autism.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the House leadership for helping to raise 
awareness on autism by bringing H. Con. Res. 91 to the floor, and I 
strongly encourage my colleagues to pass this resolution and join the 
efforts in finding a cure.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 91, which recognizes the importance of increasing 
awareness, support, and research for the autism spectrum disorder. I 
would like to thank my colleagues, Congressman Smith of New Jersey and 
Congressman Doyle of Pennsylvania for their leadership in introducing 
this important legislation.
  In my district of Guam, 28 children with autism are enrolled in 
Guam's public school system and 20 families are members of the Autism 
Society of Guam. Today I would like to take this opportunity to share 
one mother's challenge of raising a child with autism.
  At two years of age, Jay, who is the fourth child of the Flores 
family in Guam, was able to speak in full sentences with clear 
articulation. One day he stopped talking. He began to have severe 
regression, which was noticed at age three. He was not able to make any 
bowel movements without suppositories. He messed up his bed and played 
with his feces. He gradually lost the many skills he learned in school. 
He displayed many difficult behaviors, and was unmanageable in school 
and at home, alternating between violent and withdrawn behavior. His 
sleep pattern was erratic and he averaged only about three to four 
hours of sleep each night. He also required a lot of prompting to do 
self-help skills.
  As Jay became older, he also became worse. He began running into the 
street and getting inside neighbors' homes. He also was very self-
abusive, banging his head and hitting himself so his arms and legs were 
bleeding. He cried constantly. Around the clock, family life revolved 
around Jay. His mother sought solutions to his problems. Unfortunately, 
our system in Guam did not understand Jay's situation. As his mother 
worked with Jay's teachers to provide the most appropriate program for 
him, his education seemed to become just a series of fragmented 
services. At that time, Guam's teachers did not have the training nor 
were they knowledgeable about autism. Jay's mother was able to locate a 
school that specialized in teaching children with autism. She was able 
to work assertively with Guam's special education school officials to 
send Jay to school in Boston as no schools in Guam were able to provide 
specialized education for children with autism.
  At the Boston school, Jay was able to receive the appropriate service 
needed to teach children with autism. His overall behavior is now in 
sharp contrast to the behavior shown before he was given a chance to 
receive this education. His aggressive behavior has reduced. His 
artistic talent was nurtured and he is able to play some musical 
instruments and has mastered some academic skills.
  Jay's mother, a teacher by profession, became a strong advocate of 
the effectiveness of this Higashi program, which was developed by Dr. 
Kiyo Kitahara of Japan. She learned as much as she could from methods 
from his teachers and wrote a proposal to Guam's Department of 
Education about developing a program for autistic students. Guam's 
education officials realized what a contribution her proposal would 
bring to improve the special education services and gave her approval 
to move forward her proposal.
  She was granted a sabbatical from her teaching position, which she 
spent studying at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She 
received her masters in special

[[Page 6599]]

education focusing on autism in just over a year's time and returned to 
Guam in 1991, to work with the superintendent of special education 
establishing a program for school children with autism. In 1995, she 
was recognized as Guam's Teacher of the Year for her efforts. But, 
shortly thereafter, the Guam superintendent special education retired 
and so did the program.
  Since then, she has worked with other parents of children with autism 
to fight for the program she initiated in 1991. Guam's parents and 
education professionals continue to advocate for appropriate programs 
for adults and children with autism. Their efforts have resulted in the 
introduction of Bill 60 in the Guam Legislature to appropriate funding 
for autistic adults. In addition, one school in Guam recently began 
offering a preschool program for children with autism. However, the 
original autism program has not been fully integrated in the school 
system and many are still not receiving appropriate services.
  Jay's mother and other mothers and fathers of children with autism, 
established the Autism Society of Guam, which was chartered in 1989. 
The Society's mission is to promote lifelong access and opportunity for 
all individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families 
through education, advocacy, the promotion of research and increased 
awareness, the establishment of residential facility, supported 
employment, and early intervention programs, so that individuals with 
autism may become fully participating members of their communities.
  Due to the efforts of parents and professionals over the years, 
autism is locally recognized as one of the most challenging 
disabilities encountered by educators. As you may know, Guam's school 
system is struggling to meet the basic needs of all students with 
limited resources. But awareness of autism is growing and Guam's 
schools are realizing the need for support services for children with 
autism, including: one-to-one aide assistance, speech and language 
therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, transportation, home 
component services and leisure education. And though many educators on 
Guam are increasing in the experience of educating children with 
autism, few receive proper training to gain a comprehensive understand 
of the problems associated with autism or are properly trained to 
provide effective therapy to children with autism.
  Autism is a developmental disorder that is not fully understood. 
Although the cost of treatment and special education of individuals 
with autism is high, the results of individuals living without 
appropriate treatment and education are even higher. Approximately, 
400,000 Americans have been robbed of their ability to communicate and 
interact with others. As autism continues to affect at least 1 in 500 
children in our country, it continues to deserve our greatest support.
  Mr. Speaker, it is for this reason I stand in strong support today 
and urge my fellow colleagues to join in the efforts to increase 
awareness, support and research of the autism spectrum disorder. I 
would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of 
Jay's mother, Jelly Flores, President of the Autism Society of Guam and 
the officers and Board of Directors of the Society: Rosalina Wirkunnen, 
First Vice President; Lou Bascon, Second Vice President; Flor Paule, 
Secretary; Maritess Maulit, Treasurer; assistants Remedios Camilsola 
and Lirio Mondina; and board members, Beverly Bacera, Dolly Montano, 
Panchito Maulit, Carol Somerflec, Rupert White, Leonardo Paule, Dr. 
Nerissa Bretania-Shafer, Gericka Tate and Jesus Bacera, for their 
heroism and heartfelt commitment to fighting for the rights of 
individuals with autism. I also would like to acknowledge the efforts 
of Julian and Beka Martinez in their unceasing work to bring attention 
to this condition here in Washington, D.C.
  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. 
Res. 91, Recognizing the importance of increasing awareness of the 
autism spectrum disorder, and supporting programs for greater research 
and improved treatment of autism.
  Autism is a developmental disability that generally appears between 
15 and 20 months. Autism affects boys five times more than it affects 
girls, although girls are generally more severely affected. In the 
United States, over one half million individuals live with autism, 
making it more prevalent than Down Syndrome, childhood diabetes, and 
childhood cancer combined.
  Last year the Children's Health Act was signed into law. This 
important bill authorized among other worthy goals:
  Additional NIH ``Centers of Excellence'' to study autism and the 
``Centers of Excellence in Autism Epidemiology.''
  Provides for training and education grants to professionals who 
provide care for patients with autism.
  Provides grants to states that want to establish their own autism 
programs.
  This year we must fund the programs to their full amount.
  Another area that is greatly impacted by autism is special education. 
For many years Congress has been struggling to increase funding for 
IDEA. I am happy to say that in the last six years we have done better 
but there is much more to do. We are still well short of the federal 
funding of level of 40 percent. The federal government must fulfill its 
commitment so every special child has access to a quality education.
  April was Autism month. Families with autistic children visited many 
congressional offices last week. Anyone who met with these loving 
families know the courageous struggles that they endure everyday. We 
must do everything we can to help these brave children and their 
families. H. Con. Res. 91 reaffirms Congress' commitment to finding a 
cure for autism and I urge its passage.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that the House is 
considering H. Con. Res. 91 today. Among its provisions, this 
resolution expresses our strong support for the goal of increasing 
federal funding for autism research and treatment programs. It also 
emphasizes the need to begin early intervention services for children 
with autism.
  I want to commend my colleagues, Congressmen Chris Smith and Jim 
Greenwood, for their dedicated efforts to improve awareness and 
understanding of autism while working to expand research and treatment 
initiatives. I was pleased to work with both of them to enact 
children's health legislation I sponsored in the last Congress, which 
included provisions they authored to significantly increase federal 
resources in the fight against autism.
  Autism is a brain disorder that most commonly begins in early 
childhood and persists throughout adulthood. Autism impacts the normal 
development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and 
communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have 
difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social 
interactions, and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it 
hard for them to communicate with others and to relate to the outside 
world.
  Mr. Speaker, autism is a national crisis affecting over 400,000 
families and costing the nation over 13 billion dollars each year. 
According to recent studies, as many as 1 in every 500 children 
affected by this disorder.
  Any parent can tell you that nothing is more heart-wrenching than 
watching your own child suffer with an illness. As a father and 
grandfather myself, I know how terrible that can be. Today, however, we 
have a rare opportunity to do something that will give hope to families 
affected by autism.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting passage of H. 
Con. Res. 91.
  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hastings of Washington). The question is 
on the motion offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Greenwood) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent 
resolution, H. Con. Res. 91.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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