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For Immediate Release:                                          Contact:        Blain Rethmeier/Nick Mutton
December 6, 2002                                                                (202) 225-5074

Burton pushes to repeal

thimerosal lawsuit restrictions

- Legislation Would Strike Thimerosal Provisions in Homeland Security Bill  -

Washington, D.C. - Today Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN) introduced legislation to repeal provisions tacked onto the Homeland Security Act last month that limit the rights of families of autistic children to sue for damages.

Late in the 107^th Congress, provisions were added to the Homeland Security Act, sections 1714 to 1717, which cut off the ability of families to seek legal recourse against the manufacturers of thimerosal.  Many parents of autistic children believe that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative use in vaccines, contributed to their children's condition.

Said Burton, "I want to remind my colleagues in the House that as we set our priorities for the first session of the 108^th Congress, we have a looming crisis.  It is an economic crisis to the education system, to health care systems, to long-term housing and care for the disabled, to un-addressed research needs and most especially to an increasing number of families across the country.  This crisis is the Autism epidemic."

The prevalence of Autism has skyrocketed over the last two decades.  Fifteen years ago one in every 10,000 children in America was autistic. Today one in every 250 children is autistic.  One leading suspect is thimerosal, a preservative that was used for decades to kill bacteria in vaccines and contains ethyl mercury.  It has long been known that over-exposure to mercury can cause serious neurological problems in developing children.  Additionally, thimerosal is still being used as a preservative in several adult vaccines, including those given to men and women serving in the armed services through routine vaccinations.

Congressman Burton's legislation would repeal sections 1714 to 1717 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.  Congressmen Duncan, Paul, King and Kucinich, as well as Congresswoman Maloney, have joined Congressman Burton as original co-sponsors.

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