Nathan Deal: “Mr. Speaker, I rise to join Chairman Barton in support of S. 843, as amended, the Combating Autism Act of 2006. Although…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to join Chairman Barton in support of S. 843, as amended, the Combating Autism Act of 2006. Although many of us would like to have done more sooner, the bill represents a positive step forward in addressing the serious problem of autism in the United States. The legislation focuses on expanding and coordinating autism research at the National Institutes of Health, monitoring the disorder and educating the public through programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as ensuring that citizens have a voice in the Federal Government's response to autism. Leo Kanner first described autism in 1943 as a developmental disorder characterized by 'extreme autistic loneliness' and 'an obsessional desire for the maintenance of sameness.' Since the 1940s, we have learned much more about autism, including its diagnosis, traits, and possible treatments. Data from several recent studies show that between two and six out of every 1,000 children fall within the definition of what is called autism spectrum disorder.”