[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4775]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

  (Mr. MATHESON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, during my time in this job, I have met 
with many Utah families, teachers and health professionals about their 
struggle with autism. I have visited the special education classrooms 
where dedicated teachers work with youngsters who have been diagnosed 
as autistic, as well as met with families desperately searching out 
medical options for their children. I have learned from this that more 
data, more research and more public education are imperative in order 
to help these families create a future for their children.
  In Utah, one in every 133 kids has autism. That is the third highest 
rate among 14 States, according to a 2007 CDC study. Nationally, 67 
children are diagnosed with autism every single day, which costs our 
country $90 billion a year. I am humbled to represent the Utah family 
that has the highest number of cases of autism in a single-family in 
the entire United States, six children.
  As a member of the Autism Caucus and as a cosponsor of the resolution 
declaring April National Autism Month, I have been a strong advocate 
for increased research dollars to help us provide more answers about 
this disorder and the hardship it inflicts on families.
  Awareness is only a first step, but every step forward brings us 
closer I hope to improved diagnosis and treatment of autism.

                          ____________________