June 23 – As a member of the Coalition on Autism Research and Education, I have been focused on learning more about autism and how we can help improve the lives of those families who struggle with it. My heart goes out to all those who face the challenges of autism daily and I have spent many hours working with families living with autism.

Research shows that autism has been on the rise over the last decade, affecting 1 in 150 children. These numbers are staggering. Last year, I voted for a bill to designate April as “National Autism Awareness Month.” The bill also expressed support for efforts to devote new resources to 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. While this bill passed the House, the Senate did not take it up.

When this bill was reintroduced, I cosponsored it again to continue my support for raising awareness about this disorder and increasing our nation’s investment in research and improving services.