Wednesday, May 2, 2001 - Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-18) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing legislation, H.Con.Res. 91, that recognizes the importance of increasing awareness of the autism spectrum disorder, supporting programs for greater research and improved treatment of autism, and improving training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for them. This legislation, which was introduced by Reps. Doyle and Chris Smith (NJ-4) on March 29, 2001, overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 418-1 on Tuesday, May 1, 2001.

Rep. Doyle urged his colleagues during debate on the House floor yesterday to support this legislation. "We can and must do more to expand our knowledge of the disorder, and most importantly, we must do more to increase the quality of life for families and loved ones with autistic children, with an ultimate goal for curing and preventing autism in America and the world," stated Rep. Doyle.

H.Con.Res. 91 expresses support for the following autism initiatives:

• Implementing an aggressive federal research program dedicated to learning the root causes of autism, identifying the best methods of early intervention and treatment promoting understanding of the special needs of autistic persons, and increasing federal funding for autism research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)



• Recognizing and commending the parents and relatives of autistic children for dedicating their lives through love and sacrifice to their children with such unique and special needs, including absorbing significant financial costs for specialized education and support services



• Urging the Department of Health and Human Services to continue to press for the swift and full implementation of The Children’s Health Act, particularly the particularly the process of establishing not less than three "Centers of Excellence" in autism epidemiology and surveillance at the CDC and establishing "Centers of Excellence" in autism clinical research at the NIH



• Stressing the need to begin early intervention services quickly after a child has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder



• Achieving the goal of funding 40% of the costs of the Individual with Disabilities Act (IDEA) for states and local school districts



• Increasing federal funding for autism research at the NIH and CDC



• Advocating federal, state, and local legislators to allocate sufficient resources into teacher training initiatives to rectify the shortage of appropriately trained teachers that have the skills and support necessary to teach, assist and respond to the special needs of autistic students in our school system



• Recognizing the importance of worker training programs that are tailored to the needs of developmentally disabled persons, including those with an autism spectrum disorder, and notes that autistic persons can be - and are - productive members of the workforce if and when they are given the appropriate support, training, and early intervention serves at the right time.

Earlier this year, Reps. Doyle and Smith formed the Congressional Bipartisan Autism Caucus, also known as the Coalition for Autism Research and Education (C.A.R.E.). C.A.R.E is the very first organization on Capitol Hill to call national attention to the autism disorder, and it is the first Congressional Member Organization (CMO) to focus its efforts on the autism spectrum disorder. There are currently 119 Members of Congress who have joined C.A.R.E.

"For far too long, autism has not been a priority in our federal health, medical and scientific research programs. As a result, autism has no cure," stated Rep. Doyle. "We have a responsibility to help families dealing with autism. In my view, we in Congress must confront the rising problem of autism on three fronts: Causes, Cures and Quality of Life."

The Members of C.A.R.E. are committed to improving research, education, and support services for persons with autism spectrum disorder, which affect 1.7 million individuals and their families in America. C.A.R.E. will support initiatives that they believe are vital to the national effort to provide hope and answers to anxious parents of children with autism. C.A.R.E. will also generate much needed interest in funding for autism research by holding briefings that will provide a bipartisan forum where autism issues and proposed solutions can be debated and discussed.

Rep. Doyle championed the cause for C.A.R.E. after realizing that there was not one single CMO that was solely dedicated to raising federal lawmakers’ awareness on autism. "I have had a longstanding, working relationship with local autism advocacy leaders," stated Rep. Doyle. "My interest in forming C.A.R.E. culminated when I was invited by local research leaders to visit the Center for Autism Research in Pittsburgh. This visit made me realize that the voices of local researchers, advocacy leaders, and parents needed to be heard by Congress so that they too could be educated about the need for more advanced and dedicated research."

C.A.R.E. held its first official briefing on Friday, April 27, 2001, which was also National Autism Awareness Day. This briefing focused on the importance of early identification of autism as well as the need for early intervention for children who have been diagnosed with this disorder. Speaking at the briefing were John Shestack, founder of the national autism advocacy group Cure Autism Now (CAN); Nancy Wiseman, founder of First Signs, Inc.; and Dianne Zager, Professor of Special Education and Reading, C.W. Post, Long Island University. In addition, more than 100 parents and families members of individuals with autism attended the briefing.