{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399871", "<span class=\"kicker\">Persistence and Determination Needed for Autism Understanding</span>Smith Pushes Global Autism Agenda at Washington Summit", "2016-10-14", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "At a meeting of Autism leaders from around the world, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Autism Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, emphasized that perseverance is needed for legislators and advocates from all countries to address this prevalent disorder and galvanize change.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe House committee of jurisdiction emphatically told me that \u2018no disease specific\u2019 legislation would be voted on,\u201d said Smith, speaking on his struggle to provide resources and research for autism in the year 2000. \u201cWe persisted\u2014grassroots autism advocates, Moms and Dads\u2014and ultimately succeeded in making my autism bill, the ASSURE Act, title one of the Children\u2019s Health Act of 2000, which became law.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In 2005, Smith and autism activists again faced opposition: \u201cas the autism law was about to expire, we faced the same argument\u2014but Autism Speaks waged an incredible battle to save, and expand, the law.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Autism Spectrum Disorder affects a person\u2019s social communication and interactions. Autism is seen in 1 of every 68 American children, with an even higher prevalence seen in New Jersey, where it is found in 1 of every 41 children. While current reports show a much smaller percentage globally, a Harvard study indicated that as better diagnosis procedures are put in place around the developing world the diagnosis rate will rise rapidly.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Smith also noted the extreme importance of nutrition in the first 1000 days of a child\u2019s life, from conception until around the 2nd birthday. One item of particular note is the introduction of folic acid supplements in the three months before or during the first month of pregnancy. In a study sponsored by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, or IACC, mothers who took the supplement saw a massive\u201440 percent\u2014reduction in the risk of autism.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Smith is the author of three laws designed to expand research into Autism, the most recent being the \u201cAutism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2014.\u201d He has also chaired two hearings on Autism around the world, including \u201cThe Global Challenge of Autism\u201d in 2014. The importance of Autism research was brought to his attention in 1997 when Bobbie and Billy Gallagher, parents of two autistic children, expressed their concerns to him about a possible autism cluster in Brick, N.J..\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=399871"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0001962073147297, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}