As a member of the Congressional Autism Caucus, I have been focused on learning more about autism and how we can help improve the lives of those families who struggle with it. 

Research shows that autism has been on the rise over the last decade.  Many parents fear that the mercury found in most childhood vaccines has caused autism in their children.  Because of this growing concern, I cosponsored H.R. 881, the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2005, to reduce exposure to mercury through vaccines.  The bill requires that by July 1, 2006, no childhood vaccine have more than 1 microgram of mercury and that all childhood vaccines be mercury-free by July 1, 2007.

Some vaccines are now available mercury-free.