> May 15, 2003

The Honorable George W. Bush

President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Mr. President, you have made the statement many times that we should
leave no child behind. Unfortunately, there are a growing number of our
children who are in serious danger of being left behind because of the
devastating scourge of autism. Thus, I am writing you today to urge you
once again to convene a White House Conference to confront the National
problem of autism. Autism is a devastating disease that has already
reached epidemic proportions in this country, and the problem continues
to grow. A White House Conference on autism could galvanize a National
effort to find the underlying cause or causes of autism, and ultimately
lead towards a cure for this terrible disease, as well as efforts to
develop new services to help parents of autistic children meet the many
challenges they face on a day-to-day basis.

Autism was once considered a rare disease affecting just 1 in 10,000
children. In April 2000, when the Government Reform Committee held its
first hearing on the dramatic rise in autism, Federal agencies were
estimating that autism affected 1 in 500 children in the United States.
A study reported in the *Journal of the American Medical Association*
indicates that ratio may actually be as high as one in every 150
children, and the problem continues to grow.

According to a newly released report by the California Department of
Developmental Services (DDS), California's autism population has nearly
doubled in just the last four years, from 10,360 cases on December 31,
1998, to 20,377 cases as of December 31, 2002. These figures indicate a
97 percent increase in autism cases, and nearly a 100 percent increase
in the state's autism caseload since 1999. Since December 1988,
California has seen a staggering 634 percent increase in

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autism cases, jumping from 2,778 cases in December 1987 to 20,377 cases
in December 2002.

Autism is now the number one disability for children entering
California's Developmental Services System, even more prevalent than
childhood cancer, diabetes and Down's syndrome. Children with autism
represent almost 13 percent

of the total population served by California's Department of
Developmental Services. It is important to note that the figures I cited
for California do not include persons with Pervasive Developmental
Disorder (PDD), PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger's
Syndrome, or any of the other milder autism spectrum disorders. The
California data reflects *only* those children who have received a
professional diagnosis of level one (DSM IV), autism -- the most severe
form of autism. If we factor in the other milder autism spectrum
disorders, the problem becomes even more alarming.

Tragically, California's situation is not unique. The rate of growth of
persons with autism in California is commensurate with reported
increases in other states. Since 1988 for example, Florida has reported
a 571 percent increase in autism. Maryland has reported a 513 percent
increase just between 1993 and 1998, and in my home state of Indiana,
2,462 children ages 3 to 21 were diagnosed with autism in 1999 alone.
That represents one-fourth of 1 percent of all school-age children in
Indiana, or 1 out of every 400. The exponential growth in autism cases
Nation-wide shows no signs of diminishing. The Autism Society of America
estimates that the number of autistic children in the United States is
growing by 10 to 17 percent *each* year. If these trends continue, it is
conceivable that the number of autistic children in America could reach
4 million in the next decade.

Mr. President, as a Nation we are facing a crisis regarding the dramatic
rise in autism rates and the resulting emotional and financial strain
placed on families, our educational system \-- as they attempt to
educate these children who have very special needs -- and our state
Medicaid and disability programs. We face an even greater crisis in the
next two decades as the need for adult services and long-term housing
for today's autistic children simply explodes.

We must develop solutions to help families and communities cope with
this crisis, and we must also do all we can to determine what is causing
this epidemic and learn how to stop it. A White House Conference could
bring together the best scientific minds to chart a comprehensive
research agenda to uncover the underlying causes of this epidemic,
including the exploration of the biologically plausible theory of
mercury poisoning though childhood immunizations and dental amalgams. In
addition, a White House Conference on autism could bring together
parents of

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autistic children and leaders in the fields of education and social
services to begin a National dialogue about addressing the life-long
challenges faced by these children and their families.

The problem of autism is simply not going to go away. We cannot afford
to leave these children behind by doing nothing. We must mobilize a
National effort to eradicate this terrible disease; and your leadership,
Mr. President, is critical if any such effort is to succeed. Once again,
I ask you to convene a White House Conference on autism without delay.

Mr. President, thank you for your leadership, and for your personal
consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Dan Burton

Chairman

> Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness

CC: The Honorable Laura Bush

First Lady of the United States

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert

Speaker of the House

The Honorable Bill Frist, M.D.

Majority Leader

United States Senate