Autism Advocacy Community Applauds U.S. Senators Santorum (R-PA) and Dodd (D-CT) for Introducing Combating Autism Act of 2005

Main Category: Autism
Article Date: 20 Apr 2005 - 15:00 PDT


Authorizes $880 Million for Autism-Specific Federal Programs - Autism Community Unites to Urge Congress to Expand Autism Research and Funding.

Landmark legislation that would significantly increase and expand the federal government's response to autism, a developmental disorder that affects a person's ability to communicate and relate to others and that now affects as many as one of every 166 children in America, was introduced today by U.S. Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Christopher Dodd (D-CT). The Combating Autism Act of 2005 would authorize $176 million annually over the next five years to combat autism through research, screening, intervention and education efforts, in effect doubling the current National Institutes of Health's (NIH) autism funding.

"Senators Santorum and Dodd have launched an attack on autism that has never been seen at the federal level," said Jonathan Shestack, the father of a son with autism, and co-founder of Cure Autism Now, one of the largest private funders of autism research. "The legislation introduced today will cut across federal agency lines to more effectively fund autism research and expand autism treatment and early diagnosis. It is truly the result of the autism community pulling together to focus the nation's attention on this public health crisis," Shestack continued. "As the incidence of autism continues to rise, the proposed legislation introduced today would ensure continued resources to zero in on the cause so we can treat the current generation and develop preventive practices for future generations."

When the Children's Health Act, the first federal legislation addressing autism, was passed in 2000, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated the prevalence of autism at 1 in 500 children in the United States. In 2004, the CDC revised that figure to as many as 1 in 166.

"We are thrilled to see Senators Santorum and Dodd spearheading this critical endeavor in support of families of children with autism. The Combating Autism Act of 2005 would give the director of NIH the authority to expand collaborative research for autism and autism-support programs that will have a striking impact on the autism community," said Bob Wright, vice chairman, General Electric, and chairman and CEO of NBC Universal and co- founder of Autism Speaks, a new initiative devoted to education, funding, research and motivating private and governmental resources. "I am confident that increased federal funding for research will continue to unlock autism's secrets and lead us to more effective treatments and, ultimately, to a cure. As the grandparents of a child diagnosed with autism just last year, my wife, Suzanne, and I -- along with the rest of the highly dedicated autism community -- are committed to seeing that this legislation is enacted."

The Combating Autism Act of 2005 would provide grant programs for every state to develop autism screening, early diagnosis and intervention programs for children - perhaps the most important thing that could happen, short of a cure. The Act would also provide:

-- Twice the number of NIH Centers of Excellence Programs for research on autism

-- Expansion of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism

-- Funds for CDC epidemiological surveillance programs -- Establishment of Centers of Excellence regarding environmental health and autism

-- Reauthorization of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), established in the Children's Health Act of 2000, to coordinate all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services concerning autism, including activities carried out through NIH and the CDC

"Unraveling the mysteries of autism demands a large, collaborative effort on many fronts," said Prisca Chen Marvin, board chair of the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) and the mother of a child with autism. "This legislation is critical to our ability to continue advancing our search for answers -- for children and families today and for future generations." The introduction of the Combating Autism Act of 2005 could not have happened without the hundreds of thousands of active parents and concerned Americans around the country.

"The Autism Society of America is most grateful for the Senators' efforts, and on behalf of the millions of individuals living with or affected by autism, it is our hope that lawmakers take action and support this important piece of legislation so that not one more American family has to worry about the future of autism research, treatment or early diagnosis," said Lee Grossman, President and CEO of the Autism Society of America, who is the father of a son with autism. "Parents and their children deserve nothing less, and I am confident that our active autism community will work together and bring attention to this legislation."

About Autism

Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder that now affects as many as 1 in every 166 children in the United States. Autism is commonly diagnosed by the age of three, and in some cases, as early as one year. Characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills, social interactions, and restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, children with autism can exhibit symptoms that run mild to severe with widely differing symptom profiles.

About Cure Autism Now

The Cure Autism Now Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and funding autism research, and accelerating the pace of scientific progress toward effective treatments and a cure. Cure Autism Now is one of the largest private funders of biological research on autism, providing more than $24 million for research grants, outreach and scientific resources since its inception in 1995. During that time, it has established and supported the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE), as well as numerous outreach and awareness initiatives aimed at families, physicians, governmental officials and the general public. More information about Cure Autism Now can be found at http://www.cureautismnow.org.

About Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks is a new initiative devoted to educating the public about autism, facilitating and funding research, motivating private and governmental resources, and, ultimately, finding a cure for autism. Co-founded by Bob Wright, Vice Chairman of GE, and Chairman and CEO of NBC Universal, and his wife, Suzanne, Autism Speaks recognizes the importance of a coordinated effort to investigate the causes of autism, develop effective treatments, and ultimately find a cure. More information about Autism Speaks can be found at http://www.autismspeaks.org.

About the National Alliance for Autism Research

Established in 1994, the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) is the first nonprofit organization in the country dedicated to funding and accelerating biomedical research for autism spectrum disorders. The organization was established by parents of children with autism, concerned about the limited amount of funding for autism research. To date, NAAR has committed $21.1 million in grants for biomedical research projects worldwide that seek to find the causes, prevention, effective treatments and, ultimately, cure for autism spectrum disorders. Additionally, NAAR was instrumental in establishing the Autism Tissue Program, a parent-led brain tissue donation program for autism research. More information about NAAR can be found at http://www.naar.org.

About the Autism Society of America

Since its inception in 1965, the Autism Society of America (ASA) has served as the leading source of information and referral on autism, and addressed the needs of the autism community across the lifespan. With hundreds of thousands of members and supporters and a network of over 200 chapters nationwide, ASA's mission is to promote lifelong access and opportunity for all individuals within the autism spectrum, and their families, to be fully participating, included members of their communities. More information about the Autism Society of America can be found at http://www.autism-society.org.

Cure Autism Now
http://www.cureautismnow.org
http://www.naar.org
http://www.autismspeaks.org
http://www.autism-society.org

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