My only grandson is autistic, so this is an issue that is very close to my heart. In fact, my grandson became autistic after receiving 9 shots in one day, 7 of which contained thimerosal.
Because of what happened to my grandson, I took it upon my self to learn about autism and what I discovered during my research was deeply disturbing. During my tenure as Chairman of Government Reform Committee (1997-2002), and as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Rights & Wellness (2003-2005), a number of very credible national and international scientists testified at a series of hearings that the mercury in vaccines is a contributing factor to developing neurological disorders, including, but not limited to, modest declines in intelligence quotient (IQ), autism, and Alzheimer's Disease. And the body of evidence to support that conclusion gets larger every day.
I have fought hard to raise awareness of this disease and increase research into the causes of autism, as well as new treatments for those suffering with autism. Below you'll find a link to the statement I made during the floor debate on S.843 in 2006, regarding our missed opportunity to resolve the thimerosal controversy once and for all.
The debate about mercury in vaccines must be addressed, investigated and resolved. Parents have a right to know what happened to their children regardless of where the truth lies.
Resources
Burton's Statement of Support of the Combating Autism Act (S.843) - December 6, 2006
Filing a Claim with the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)
Autism links :
A-Champ: http://www.a-champ.org/
Autism Society of America (ASA): http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer
Autism Speaks: http://www.autismspeaks.org/
Coalition for Mercury-free Drugs ( CoMeD):http://mercury-freedrugs.org/
Dads Against Mercury: http://www.dadsagainstmercury.org/
Educate Before You Vaccinate: http://www.educatebeforeyouvaccinate.com/
Fair Autism Media: http://autismmedia.org/
Generation Rescue: http://www.generationrescue.org/
Moms Against Mercury: http://www.momsagainstmercury.org/
National Autism Association: http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/
National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC): http://www.909shot.com/
NoMercury: http://www.nomercury.org/
SafeMinds: http://www.safeminds.org/
Unlocking Autism: http://www.unlockingautism.org/