What's taking the US Senate so long

[Guest guest]

On April 19, 2005, Senators Dodd (D-CT) and Rick Santorum

(R-PA) introduced S. 843, The Combating Autism Act.

The bill would amend the Public Health Service Act to combat autism

through research, screening, intervention and education.

Specifically, S. 843 would authorize $860 million over five years to

combat Autism, doubling the National Institute of Health's(NIH)

current autism funding level.

This legislation would provide for the development of statewide

screening, education and treatment programs and require the Director

of NIH to coordinate all autism-related research efforts, identify

expenditures related to autism research, and develop a strategic

research plan based upon the recommendations put forth by the committee.

S.843 is currently being considered by the Senate Health, Education,

Labor and Pensions Committee. Senator Patty Murray is a Committee

member. If you're from the following states with a senator on this

committee, please contact them as their constituents and ask for S.

843 to come before the full Senate vote..

You can find more information about this committee at http://

help.senate.gov/index.html. I've pasted a list of members below.

Thank you for your consideration,

Arzu Forough