IS THE AUTISM EPIDEMIC RELATED TO VACCINES?
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN), Chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness, announced today he, along with Congressman Dave Weldon (R-FL), and a group of scientists, medical researchers and parents of afflicted children, will convene to discuss the latest findings with regards to the autism epidemic.
The press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, 2003, starting at 10:00 a.m. in room 2203 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Stated Chairman Burton, “There is an increasing body of scientific evidence, published in peer reviewed medical journals, demonstrating an association between childhood vaccines and autism. I have invited several of these researchers to present their findings in order to continue to shed light on this very important matter.”
Panelists will include Dr. Mark Geier, physician and epidemiologist; Dr. Jeffrey Bradstreet, FAAP, researcher and founder of the International Childhood Development Resource Center; Professor James Adams, University of Arizona, an expert in heavy metal chemistry and researcher; Dr. Jeffrey Segal, a neurosurgeon and researcher; and Dr. Boyd Haley, Chairman, Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, one of the world’s leading experts on mercury and mercury poisoning.
During his tenure as Chairman of the Full House Government Reform Committee (1997-2002), Congressman Burton held multiple hearings to investigate the possible causal relationship between mercury in childhood vaccines and autism. Additionally, on March 19, 2003, Chairman Burton introduced the “National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Improvement Act of 2003,” which seeks to amend the current Vaccine Injury Compensation Program by extending the statute of limitations, increasing the base amount of funding available to those injured, and providing for a critical two-year “look back” provision for families who previously missed filing deadlines.
For more information on Chairman Burton’s previous legislative and investigative efforts, please visit the designated healthcare section on his website at www.house.gov/burton/healthcare.htm.