Since having a baby, I've been trying to get as educated as possible on illnesses that effect children. One that has kept coming up over and over again in all of the literature I've read is autism. The number of cases has increased by up to 6000% in the past 20 years and at least a half million American children have been diagnosed with the illness. This is obviously an epidemic that has gotten little attention (in my mind). Congress passed a bill that would increase funding to do autism research as well as find new therapies, etc. and Bush vetoed it. Below is the statement from the Autism Society of America urging everyone to contact your congressional delegate in hopes they'll override the Presidents veto.
This morning, President Bush vetoed the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations bill. This bipartisan bill had strong support in both the House and the Senate, but the President objected to the overall funding levels of the bill, which includes modest increases for vital programs - most of which have experienced significant cuts, lost purchasing power or both over the past three years.
This legislation includes significant increases for autism programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Resources and Services Administration and the National Institutes of Health. These increases represent full funding of the Combating Autism Act, and are critical in improving our ability to diagnose, intervene and develop new therapies for autism. We need this crucial investment!
The House could move to override the President's veto as early as this week. Contact your Member of Congress and urge them to vote YES on the veto override.
To send an email to your congressional delegation click here.
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