http://www.house.gov/weldon/news/2003releases/030723.htm

7-23-03 -- Weldon Speaks To Families & Researchers About Vaccine Safety
and Autism Research Funding

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Washington, D.C. – Today Rep. Dave Weldon joined with families from around the country, other lawmakers, and researchers, including Dr. Jeff Bradstreet of Melbourne, Florida for a Capitol Hill briefing to discuss the latest research and funding needs of vaccine safety and Autism research.

At the briefing Dr. Bradstreet presented some of his latest medical research which has been accepted for publication. Dr. Bradstreet became involved with this area of research because of his son Matthew. Matthew was developing normally and then after receiving his 15-month vaccinations he began to regress. He lost language, connection with his family and then developed seizures and inflammatory bowel disease. Later, he was diagnosed with Autism and was found to have persistent measles infection.

Since 1990, an epidemic of autism has taking place, and today there are nearly 500,000 cases of Autism, primarily in young children. Dr. Bradstreet, along with other researchers, unveiled new research that demonstrates a link association between childhood vaccines and Autism.

“Too many parents are losing their children to Autism,” said Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. “and sadly, parents are the ones funding this valuable research. Funding from the National Institutes of Health has been woefully inadequate. This is shameful and I am applying the appropriate pressure to rectify this.

The Institute of Medicine, in their report on the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and their report on thimerosal, did not rule out a link to Autism, but additional, independent research needs to be done to establish this link with a high degree of certainty.