Last week, the Combating Autism Reathorization Act was introduced into the U.S. legislature last week. Many organizations were ready with quick responses: the Autism Science Foundation, ASAN, and Autism Speaks to name a few.
How about the organizations which promote the idea that autism is a vaccine injury? Organizations like Generation Rescue, the National Autism Association and SafeMinds, and Talk About Curing Autism?
A quick survey of their websites shows nothing. Nothing on the front pages that I can see. Nothing on their news pages. If I’ve missed it, let me know.
Sure, you can find great information on their sites. Like “Vaccine Injury/Autism Study, A Federal Cover-Up?” or how to buy compounded drugs or sunglasses. Or “Jenny McCarthy” in big letters. But on a key piece of legislation comes through and there’s essentially silence.
Just an observation.
Left Brain Right Brain 
Hre’s where you’ll find all those groups. Combating Autism Act Reauthorization Coalition. http://caacoalition.org/index.php I found it while researching for my White Paper for class.
Google search for “combating autism act” and the 6th result is –
http://www.ageofautism.com/2010/10/announcing-the-combating-autism-act-reauthorization-coalition.html
What is the position of LBRB on the reauthorization of the Combating Autism Act? Or, for that matter Sullivan (Carey’s?) view?
MJ, Michele,
thanks for pointing this out. Yes, last year when a combating authorization act reathorization was introduced, those groups were vocal. They aren’t now.
The bill last year was a very welcome, but largely symbolic act of a retiring legislator. The bill was introduced towards the end of a very busy congress. When that congress ended, the bill died.
Harold L Doherty,
I don’t believe there is an “LBRB” position. You can ask the people here their own positions on the reauthorization.
For my perspective–I think the CAA should be reauthorized. The IACC has had some big successes. One was in having the Strategic Plan in place when the Obama stimulus plan was being built. Having the plan in place made it easy to justify a chunk of stimunlus money going directly into autism research.
Even barring the reathorization, I hope and expect that some level of effort will continue to coordinate autism research.
As of 10 am EST today no text for the CAA reauthorization was available to the public. This may come as a surprise but some people prefer to read legislation and studies before commenting.
John Gilmore,
this is true, and why I wanted to wait before I added my own thoughts. But, from what I have read (I believe at disability scoop) the current version is a close copy of the bill passed a few years back. I would not be surprised at all if Autism Speaks, ASAN and ASF had the text of the bill as introduced.