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For Immediate Release:

Contact:

April Oakes, The Autism Autoimmunity Project,

1-800-939-TAAP

Jo Pike, MoMA/TAAP,

(843) 206-8449

Senator Frist Has Done It Again: The Autism Autoimmunity Project to Sponsor DC Rally This Wednesday in Protest of S15

PARENTS, ORGANIZATIONS AND LAWMAKERS WILL GATHER TO SUPPORT INTRODUCTION OF BURTON/PALLONE BILL AND PROTEST LEGISLATION S. 15 THAT WILL TAKE AWAY MERCURY-POISONED CHILDREN’S RIGHTS TO SEEK COMPENSATION

Washington DC––March 17, 2003—In response to new legislation S. 15 announced last Wednesday that will once again protect drug companies from litigation pertaining to the mercury preservative Thimerosal, The Autism Autoimmunity Project is holding a rally at Upper Senate Park in Washington DC on this Wednesday, March 19th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm EST.

A similar rally was held by The Autism Autoimmunity Project in early January which sparked the repeal of a provision tip-toed into the Homeland Security Bill in support of Eli Lilly, maker of the preservative used in as many as 50 vaccines. This Wednesday’s rally holds even more cards as two major bills come into play¾Senate Bill 15 which protects drug companies while shunning thousands of children injured by the mercury preservative, and the Burton/Pallone Bill which offers due process to pursue civil litigation and for its look-back provision to incorporate thousands of families who presently do not fit into the Vaccine Injury Compensation Act.

A press conference will be held during the rally as Congressman Dan Burton

(R-IN) reintroduces family-friendly legislation for the Vaccine Injury Compensation Plan. Other speakers will include presidential candidate Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Congressman Dave Weldon (R-FL). Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder of the National Vaccine Information Center, along with Dr. Boyd Haley and Safe Minds President Lyn Redwood, are also expected to speak.

S. 15, sponsored by Senator Judd Gregg, comes on the heels of a just-published report in a peer-reviewed medical journal that confirms a causal relationship between Thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders. The Geier research confirms the findings of an unreleased CDC study, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (go to www.factsformedia.com to see study), which found a relative risk of 2.48 between thimerosal exposures and autism. Courts of law have generally held that a relative risk of 2.0 or higher is sufficient to substantiate that a

given exposure causes disease.

The Autism Autoimmunity Project will also launch a major media campaign starting today. President April Oakes feels it’s a good way to educate lawmakers who typically only get one side of the story. “The evidence that supports our cause is beyond impressive and equally troubling,” said Oakes. “If we don’t reach lawmakers and the public with accurate information, who will?” she asked. A film crew is also expected to be on site during the rally. It’s said they will be filming for an upcoming documentary that explores in-depth details pertaining to the Thimerosal-autism issue.

In 1990, the rate of autism was 1 in 10,000. Today that number stands at 1 in 150 according to Centers for Disease Control. This dramatic rise in autism rates correlates with the increase in mercury-exposure through vaccines given to children in the late 1980s and through the 1990s.

For more information about the autism-mercury connection, visit www.factsformedia.com, www.safeminds.org, www.momsonamissionforautism.org, www.altcorp.com and www.autismautoimmunityproject.com.

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.