IV

107TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 400

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.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 25, 2002

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. KING, Mr. TOM

DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. HOLT, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr.

GOODLATTE, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. SHAYS, Mr.

DAVIS of Florida, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. CANTOR, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. REYES,

and Mr. GOODE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred

to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

RESOLUTION

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.

Whereas the Autism Society of America, Cure Autism Now,

the National Alliance for Autism Research, Unlocking

Autism, and numerous other organizations commemorate

April as Autism Awareness Month;
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•HRES 400 IH

Whereas autism is a developmental disorder that is typically

diagnosed during the first 3 years of life;

Whereas autism has robbed at least 750,000 people in the

United States of their ability to communicate and interact with others;

Whereas autism affects at least 2 to 6 in every 1,000 children

in the United States;

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 schoolaged 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

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) supports the goals and ideas of Autism

3 Awareness Month;

4 (2) recognizes and commends the parents and

5 relatives of autistic children for their sacrifice and
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•HRES 400 IH

1 dedication in providing for the special needs of their

2 autistic children and for absorbing significant finan3 cial costs for specialized education and support serv4 ices;

5 (3) supports the goal of increasing Federal

6 funding for aggressive research to learn the root

7 causes of autism, identify the best methods of early

8 intervention and treatment, and promote under9 standing of the special needs of autistic persons;

10 (4) commends the Department of Health and

11 Human Services for the swift implementation of the

12 Children’s Health Act of 2000, particularly for es13 tablishing 4 Centers of Excellence at the Centers of

14 Disease Control and Prevention to study the epide15 miology of autism and related developmental disabil16 ities and the proposed Centers of Excellence at the

17 National Institutes of Health for autism research;

18 and

19 (5) stresses the need to begin early intervention

20 services soon after a child has been diagnosed with

21 autism, noting that early intervention strategies, in22 cluding applied behavioral analysis, are the primary

23 therapeutic options for young autistic persons.

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