Senator Richard Burr Responds To Autism Questions

Senator Richard Burr

I received a letter from Senator Richard Burr in response to my questions about the increase in the number of children diagnosed with Autism. I was happy to receive a letter from him, because he a NC state Senator. Here is the letter I received:

Dear Mrs. Lessick:

Thank you for contacting me about autism. I have had the opportunity to meet with many parents of autistic children over the years to hear their concerns firsthand. I appreciate hearing from you, and I apologize for the delay in my response.

In response to your questions, I am deeply concerned that one in every 110 children in the United States is diagnosed with some form of autism and that this trend is continuing to worsen. It is vitally important that we increase research on autism so that we can better understand its causes and defeat it. I also understand the importance of early interventions so that we can help those diagnosed with autism reach their fullest potential.

I was proud to cosponsor the Combating Autism Act of 2006, which authorized $870 million for autism research, screening, intervention, and education. Specifically, the bill authorized $635 million in federal funding for autism research conducted by the National Institutes of Health. It also increased funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s developmental disabilities surveillance and research program, as well as autism education, early detection, and early intervention. Please know that I will continue to advocate for full funding of these programs.

Regarding the long-term needs of those with autism, you may be interested to know that I recently joined with Senators Casey and Dodd to introduce the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2009 (S.493). This important legislation, which is currently pending in the Senate Finance Committee, would allow families of a special needs child to save tax-free to help cover the costs of education, job training, and health care throughout the dependent’s lifetime. It would also provide additional assistance to help low and middle income families who have dependents with autism, and I hope the Senate will consider and approve it soon.

Please know that I remain committed to ensuring autistic children are able to access the treatment they need. In the Meantime, I hope you will let me know if I can ever be of assistance to you or your family.

Sincerely,

Richard Burr

United States Senator