Autism Legislation

Several landmark pieces of autism legislation to benefit our loved ones are now on the table. A visit with your legislator will not only help important bills gain passage, but will also allow you to share your story and help put a face on autism for policy makers.

H.R. 5940: Comprehensive Comparative Study of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Populations Act of 2006
Introduced by Representatives Maloney and Tom Osborne (R-NE), this bill would ensure that the studies that should have been undertaken years ago by the CDC are finally conducted. Comparing health outcomes between vaccinated and unvaccinated children will lead to a greater understanding of the potential connection between vaccines and juvenile diabetes, asthma, allergies, neurological disorders and a host of other diagnoses that have risen over the past two decades.

H.R. 881: Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2005
This bill was introduced last year by Congressman Weldon and is co-sponsored by Carolyn Maloney. Thimerosal is still present in many vaccines, including most versions of the flu vaccine routinely administered to pregnant women and young children. We must convince our legislators that injecting humans with a neurotoxin is not good public health care policy. Many other countries have banned mercury from vaccines and the U.S. is lagging behind in addressing this obvious risk to human health.

The Time to Act is NOW!

Tell your representatives that you support these bills and ask that they become co-sponsors. For the sake of our children’s future and for the health of generations to come, we must work together to see that autism legislation is enacted.

Source: National Autism Association

Senator Barack Obama's Autism Plan

In the U.S. Senate Obama is co-sponsor of a measure that would expand federal funding for life-long services for perople with ASD, authorizing about $350 million in new federal funding for key programs related to treatments, interventions and srvices for individuals with ASD. As President, Barack Obama will:

• Provide Americans with disabilities with the educational opportunities they need to succeed.
• End discrimination and promote equal opportunity.
• Increase the employment rate of workers with disabilities.
• Support independent, community-based living for Americans with disabilities.
• Appoint Federal ASD Coordinator to Oversee All Federal ASD Efforts.
• Fully Fund the Combating Autism Act and Federal Autism Research Initiatives.
• Support Special Needs Education for Children with ASD.
• Support Universal Screening.
• Work Together.

For more on autism legislation by Senator Barack Obama click here.

Obama Response to ACHAMP Questions
on Autism

Senator John McCain's Autism Plan

Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

"Singly, we are like drops of water, disappearing onto the desert floor as they fall. But together, we can make a thunderstorm!" Amity Gaige, We Are a Thunderstorm!

• Be a United States Citizen
• Be at least 18 years of age in most states
• Have not been convicted of a felony, or if convicted, your sentence and parole have been completed longer than two years ago
• Have not been officially found to be mentally incompetent

For Voter Registration information in Spanish

Voter Registration Resources

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA's) purpose is to activate, motivate, promote, support, and educate African-American women about the political process, encourage involvement, and to affirm our commitment to, and solving of, those problems affecting the African-American community.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is a nonpartisan political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

NAACP National Headquarters
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore MD 21215
(877) NAACP-98
(410) 580-5777

The NAACP Civic Engagement Department has developed a 2008 Voter Empowerment Program (VEP '08) a nonpartisan campaign designed to empower African American and people of color by increasing awareness and participation in the electoral process. The VEP '08 Goal is to increase African American voter turnout by 5% more than the 2004 turnout.

Contact the NAACP to receive the Voter Empowerment Guide and NAACP Election Issues Pocket Guide.

Contact Your Legislators

How important are your calls and letters to Legislators?

• Every call you make to your Senators = 10 opinions like yours.
• Every e-mail = 1 opinion like yours.
• Every letter = 100 opinions like yours.
• Every letter with attached names or petitions with it = 500 like-minded opinions.

Toll-Free Lines to Federal Officials

Congressional Hotline: 1-800-718-1008

Find Federal Officials Enter ZIP Code: or Search by State Find State Officials Enter ZIP Code: or Search by State Contact The Media Enter ZIP Code: or Search by State

Contact Local Media

If you cannot make a personal visit to your representative, consider mailing a letter with your personal story, along with a picture of your child and request their support of these important bills.

Return to Home page