On the recordApril 27, 2010
I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1033, a resolution designating April 2010 as National Autism Awareness Month. This resolution serves an important function of increasing awareness of the 1.5 million individuals who are living with autism spectrum disorder and of the extreme dedication and efforts of their families in providing the best possible care and environments for their children, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters. I want to especially note that the parents and the grandparents of children with autism have earned our enormous respect. I know many families with autism. It can be a very harrowing ordeal. Yet they do it with such class and with such love and dedication to their children. The concerns of the parents are validated in the community, and have since been found to be true nationwide in terms of the numbers. I will point out to my colleagues that I've been involved in autism since 1981, since my first term.
