05-26-2005, 04:19 PM
Here's more on this act, brought on by CAN and NAAR (I'll bring my 'highlights' in a few minutes) :
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/storie...560&EDATE=
"WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 yesterday by U.S. Congresswoman Mary Bono (R-CA), the
lead sponsor of the House bill and U.S. Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO),
the original co-sponsor of the bill. The Combating Autism Act of 2005 (HR
2421) would authorize significant federal funds annually over the next five
years to combat autism through epidemiological research, screening,
intervention and education efforts.
"Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in our nation,"
said Congresswoman Bono. "Fortunately, the medical community is responding by
increasing their efforts to effectively diagnose, treat and cure this
disorder. Currently, both the cause and cure are unknown, often leaving
families with feelings of frustration and hopelessness. The goal of this
legislation is to support the medical community by augmenting current federal
efforts by reauthorizing federal funding and allowing for better coordination
of the federal response to autism," added Bono.
"The legislation introduced today will cut across federal agency lines to
more effectively fund autism epidemiological 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," said Jonathan Shestack, co-founder of Cure Autism Now. "In addition
to the leadership of Congresswomen Bono and DeGette, we have been working with
U.S. Congressmen Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and Mike Doyle (D-PA), the House
Autism Caucus Co-Chairman, encouraging them to seek the early endorsement of
this bill by the nearly 200 members of the House Autism Caucus. Passage of
this legislation is critical as the incidence of autism continues to rise."
"Right now, autism is a disorder that leaves families with far too many
questions and far too few answers. While the medical community has made
important steps in addressing this disorder, there is still much more to be
done," said Rep. DeGette. "That is why it is so critical that we put the full
weight of the federal government's scientific resources behind efforts to
develop better ways to diagnose, treat and hopefully cure autism."
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 Congresswomen Bono and DeGette spearheading this
critical endeavor in support of families of children with autism. The
Combating Autism Act of 2005 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. "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 also increases funds for CDC epidemiological surveillance
programs, and reauthorizes 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 the CDC.
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.
"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."
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/."
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/storie...560&EDATE=
"WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 yesterday by U.S. Congresswoman Mary Bono (R-CA), the
lead sponsor of the House bill and U.S. Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO),
the original co-sponsor of the bill. The Combating Autism Act of 2005 (HR
2421) would authorize significant federal funds annually over the next five
years to combat autism through epidemiological research, screening,
intervention and education efforts.
"Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in our nation,"
said Congresswoman Bono. "Fortunately, the medical community is responding by
increasing their efforts to effectively diagnose, treat and cure this
disorder. Currently, both the cause and cure are unknown, often leaving
families with feelings of frustration and hopelessness. The goal of this
legislation is to support the medical community by augmenting current federal
efforts by reauthorizing federal funding and allowing for better coordination
of the federal response to autism," added Bono.
"The legislation introduced today will cut across federal agency lines to
more effectively fund autism epidemiological 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," said Jonathan Shestack, co-founder of Cure Autism Now. "In addition
to the leadership of Congresswomen Bono and DeGette, we have been working with
U.S. Congressmen Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and Mike Doyle (D-PA), the House
Autism Caucus Co-Chairman, encouraging them to seek the early endorsement of
this bill by the nearly 200 members of the House Autism Caucus. Passage of
this legislation is critical as the incidence of autism continues to rise."
"Right now, autism is a disorder that leaves families with far too many
questions and far too few answers. While the medical community has made
important steps in addressing this disorder, there is still much more to be
done," said Rep. DeGette. "That is why it is so critical that we put the full
weight of the federal government's scientific resources behind efforts to
develop better ways to diagnose, treat and hopefully cure autism."
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 Congresswomen Bono and DeGette spearheading this
critical endeavor in support of families of children with autism. The
Combating Autism Act of 2005 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. "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 also increases funds for CDC epidemiological surveillance
programs, and reauthorizes 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 the CDC.
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.
"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."
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/."
I'm glad you don't mind me including it. On another note...anybody here have a website to list as a supporter? I tried to start an online petition as well, but it wouldn't work. :shock: I'm all excited about this.