IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 96 
Recognizing the importance of autism awareness, supporting efforts to in-
crease funding for research into the causes and treatment of autism 
and to improve training and support for individuals with autism and 
those who care for individuals with autism. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 2, 2009 
Mr. DOYLE (for himself, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, and Mr. ENGEL) sub-
mitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees 
on Education and Labor and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the importance of autism awareness, supporting 
efforts to increase funding for research into the causes 
and treatment of autism and to improve training and 
support for individuals with autism and those who care 
for individuals with autism. 
Whereas autism is a developmental disorder that is typically 
diagnosed during the first 3 years of life, robbing individ-
uals of their ability to communicate and interact with 
others; 
Whereas autism affects an estimated 1 in every 150 children 
in the United States; 
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Whereas autism is 4 times more likely to occur in boys than 
in girls; 
Whereas autism can affect anyone, regardless of race, eth-
nicity, or other factors; 
Whereas it costs approximately $80,000 per year to treat an 
individual with autism in a medical center specializing in 
developmental disabilities; 
Whereas the cost of special education programs for school- 
age 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 upwards of $90,000,000,000 per 
year; 
Whereas despite the fact that autism is one of the most com-
mon developmental disorders, many professionals in the 
medical and educational fields are still unaware of the 
best methods to diagnose and treat the disorder; and 
Whereas the United Nations has declared April 2 as World 
Autism Awareness Day, to be observed every year begin-
ning in 2008, increasing public awareness worldwide of 
the need to support individuals with autism and the fam-
ily members, teachers, physicians, and other professionals 
who care for individuals with autism: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress— 
(1) recognizes and commends the parents and 
relatives of individuals with autism for their sacrifice 
and dedication in providing for the special needs of 
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individuals with autism and for absorbing significant 
financial costs for specialized education and support 
services, as well as health services that are often not 
reimbursed through insurance coverage; 
(2) supports the goal of increasing Federal 
funding for aggressive research to learn the root 
causes of autism, identify those affected by the dis-
order, determine the best methods of early interven-
tion and treatment, expand programs for individuals 
with autism across their lifespans, and promote un-
derstanding of the special needs of people with au-
tism; 
(3) stresses the need to begin early intervention 
services soon after a child has been diagnosed with 
autism, noting that early intervention strategies are 
the primary therapeutic options for young people 
with autism, and that early intervention significantly 
improves the outcome for people with autism and 
can reduce the level of funding and services needed 
to treat people with autism later in life; 
(4) supports the Federal Government’s more 
than 30-year-old commitment to provide States with 
40 percent of the costs needed to educate children 
with disabilities under part B of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act; 
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