Burton Calls On President Bush To Hold A White House Conference On Autism
[From Congressman Dan Burton's office.]
Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), Chairman of the Committee on Government
Reform, today wrote President Bush urging him to host a White House
conference on autism and to begin a national effort to determine why autism
has reached epidemic proportions in the United States.
A recent study funded by the State of California determined that the
number of autistic children in California has tripled over the past 10
years, and that the increase could not be attributed to better diagnoses, a
broadening of the definition of autism or more accurate testing.
Said Burton, "Fifteen years ago, one in every 10,000 children in
America was autistic. Today, one in every 250 children is autistic. We have
an epidemic on our hands. This explosive growth in autism has had
devastating consequences for families and communities all across the
country. Families of autistic children face great emotional and financial
hardships as they seek care for their children. As a nation, we must develop
solutions to help families and communities cope with these challenges."
One possible factor in the recent surge in autism cases cited in
Burton's letter is the mercury preservative that was used for years in
pediatric vaccines. Over the last ten years, additional vaccines were added
to the routine vaccination schedule, increasing the cumulative amount of
mercury to which young children were being exposed. Concluded Burton, "I
believe we must try to determine what is causing this outbreak and how it
can be stopped. President Bush is in a unique position to provide the
leadership that this issue needs. He could bring together parents of
autistic children and the best minds from the scientific community to chart
a course of scientific research to uncover the underlying causes of this
alarming epidemic."
To read Chairman Burton's letter to President Bush and for more
information regarding autism, please visit the House Committee on Government
Reform's website at
http://www.reform.house.gov.
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