(no subject)
The effort to get Members of the Senate and House to Co-sponsor the Combating Autism Act of 2005 needs a renewed push by everyone who loves and cares for a child with autism.
Many Congressional staffers are telling parents that while their bosses support the Combating Autism Act, and would vote for it if it came to the floor, they have not heard from enough voters in their home state or district to sign on as a co-sponsor.
This is a catch 22. Without enough co-sponsors, the bill won’t ever come to a vote on the floor and all of its supposed support will be for nothing. The autism community must persuade our Representatives in Congress to co-sponsor this bill.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions and suggested answers for conversations with Congressional staffers and others about the Combating Autism Act of 2005.
Q: My Senator supports autism research and the Combating Autism Act but wants to wait until it comes to the floor for a vote. How do I convince the staffer that I want him/her to co-sponsor the bill now?
A: Please make it clear that you understand that without sufficient co-sponsors, the bill will never come to the floor for a vote, and therefore expressions of support in the absence of co-sponsorship will be seen by the autism community as false promises by insincere friends.
Q: Why should the NIH and CDC receive more money to do autism research? They haven’t produced any answers for us thus far.
A: These are the agencies of the federal government charged with overseeing all medical research. There is no alternative way for Congress to fund autism research. Moreover, while many in the autism community have issues with the NIH and/or the CDC, the fact is that they do almost no autism research "in house". The money is being spent under grants provided by the federal government to many of the leading medical research universities and hospitals all throughout the United States and substantial scientific progress is being made.
Q: The research on immunology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and toxicology are not expected to start until 2008. Why the delay?
A: In drafting this bill, Cure Autism Now believed it was unrealistic to ask for an immediate expansion of the research subjects mandated for the Centers of Excellence. 2008 was selected as the start date for the expanded mandate because it follows the expiration of the current contracts between the NIH and the Centers which define their present scope of work.
Q: I have been calling my legislators about removing thimerosal from vaccines. How do I also incorporate my interest in more autism research in my conversation about autism?
A: Please make it clear that whatever the Members' views on the vaccine issue, we still want him/her to support autism research and the vital new early identification screening program which would be created by the Combating Autism Act, and our community will be grateful for such support.
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Please visit www.autismbill.org now and do your part to keep the Combating Autism Act of 2005 alive and well on its way to becoming a law.
Many Congressional staffers are telling parents that while their bosses support the Combating Autism Act, and would vote for it if it came to the floor, they have not heard from enough voters in their home state or district to sign on as a co-sponsor.
This is a catch 22. Without enough co-sponsors, the bill won’t ever come to a vote on the floor and all of its supposed support will be for nothing. The autism community must persuade our Representatives in Congress to co-sponsor this bill.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions and suggested answers for conversations with Congressional staffers and others about the Combating Autism Act of 2005.
Q: My Senator supports autism research and the Combating Autism Act but wants to wait until it comes to the floor for a vote. How do I convince the staffer that I want him/her to co-sponsor the bill now?
A: Please make it clear that you understand that without sufficient co-sponsors, the bill will never come to the floor for a vote, and therefore expressions of support in the absence of co-sponsorship will be seen by the autism community as false promises by insincere friends.
Q: Why should the NIH and CDC receive more money to do autism research? They haven’t produced any answers for us thus far.
A: These are the agencies of the federal government charged with overseeing all medical research. There is no alternative way for Congress to fund autism research. Moreover, while many in the autism community have issues with the NIH and/or the CDC, the fact is that they do almost no autism research "in house". The money is being spent under grants provided by the federal government to many of the leading medical research universities and hospitals all throughout the United States and substantial scientific progress is being made.
Q: The research on immunology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and toxicology are not expected to start until 2008. Why the delay?
A: In drafting this bill, Cure Autism Now believed it was unrealistic to ask for an immediate expansion of the research subjects mandated for the Centers of Excellence. 2008 was selected as the start date for the expanded mandate because it follows the expiration of the current contracts between the NIH and the Centers which define their present scope of work.
Q: I have been calling my legislators about removing thimerosal from vaccines. How do I also incorporate my interest in more autism research in my conversation about autism?
A: Please make it clear that whatever the Members' views on the vaccine issue, we still want him/her to support autism research and the vital new early identification screening program which would be created by the Combating Autism Act, and our community will be grateful for such support.
***
Please visit www.autismbill.org now and do your part to keep the Combating Autism Act of 2005 alive and well on its way to becoming a law.