Chris Smith: “I thank my good friend, Dr. Burgess. Mr. Speaker, the Autism CARES Act of 2019, I say to my colleagues, is a…”

“I thank my good friend, Dr. Burgess. Mr. Speaker, the Autism CARES Act of 2019, I say to my colleagues, is a comprehensive reauthorization and strengthening of America's whole- of-government autism spectrum disorder initiative. As the prime author of the bill, let me extend very special thanks to cosponsor Mike Doyle from Pennsylvania for his extraordinary leadership, his partnership, and his friendship over these many years; to Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Anna Eshoo for expertly shepherding this bill through her subcommittee with Ranking Member Dr. Burgess; and my deep gratitude to the full committee Chair Frank Pallone and Ranking Member Greg Walden. Mr. Speaker, I also thank staff, including Kelsey Griswold, Kate Werley, Rachel Fybel, Dr. Kristen Shatynski, and Stephen Holland, for their tremendous help and assistance on this legislation. Frankly, we couldn't have done this without so many autism advocates, including and especially Stuart Spielman of Autism Speaks and Scott Badesch of the Autism Society. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan legislation powerfully supports and pursues durable remedies and effective interventions for the approximately 1.5 million children with ASD. That is an estimated 1 in 59 children in the U.S. In my home State of New Jersey, that is 1 in 34. We do have the highest rate, according to the CDC. This bill also helps adults with autism who were and are today often misdiagnosed, underdiagnosed, and overlooked.…”