Burton Calls on President Bush to Hold a White House Conference on Autism
Washington, D.C. - 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 www.reform.house.gov.


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November 21, 2002, letter to President Bush 86k

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